Asset Securitizations (Details Textuals) $ in Billions	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)
American Express Charge Trust [Member]
Securitized Trusts [Line Items]
Direct and Indirect ownership of variable interests	$ 2.0
American Express Lending Trust [Member]
Securitized Trusts [Line Items]
Direct and Indirect ownership of variable interests	$ 13.3

Direct and Indirect ownership of variable interests with the exception of the debt securities issued to third party investors.

No definition available.

Name:	axp_DirectAndIndirectOwnershipOfVariableInterests
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant