<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xbrl
  xml:lang="en-US"
  xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance"
  xmlns:dei="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019-01-31"
  xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"
  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <link:schemaRef xlink:href="aexc-20201223.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000004969</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2020-12-23</startDate>
            <endDate>2020-12-23</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <dei:EntityCentralIndexKey
      contextRef="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjEzZTRhOTcxNjQ5OTQ4NTM4ZWU2ZTMyNjM3Yzg1YzkzL3NlYzoxM2U0YTk3MTY0OTk0ODUzOGVlNmUzMjYzN2M4NWM5M180L2ZyYWc6NmMyYWIzY2M4YzcwNDQ0MzhhMWQxYTIxOWEwYmUzMmEvdGFibGU6ZTgwZGRhN2UwMmI2NDU2ZDhjMTE3ZTUwMGMzYzZkZTYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTplODBkZGE3ZTAyYjY0NTZkOGMxMTdlNTAwYzNjNmRlNl8yLTEtMS0xLTA_d0134802-cd67-4882-95dc-7445f44d3739">0000004969</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjEzZTRhOTcxNjQ5OTQ4NTM4ZWU2ZTMyNjM3Yzg1YzkzL3NlYzoxM2U0YTk3MTY0OTk0ODUzOGVlNmUzMjYzN2M4NWM5M180L2ZyYWc6NmMyYWIzY2M4YzcwNDQ0MzhhMWQxYTIxOWEwYmUzMmEvdGFibGU6ZTgwZGRhN2UwMmI2NDU2ZDhjMTE3ZTUwMGMzYzZkZTYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTplODBkZGE3ZTAyYjY0NTZkOGMxMTdlNTAwYzNjNmRlNl81LTEtMS0xLTA_237eb723-8d3e-4a04-8ab5-afa3b031da5e">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:DocumentType
      contextRef="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjEzZTRhOTcxNjQ5OTQ4NTM4ZWU2ZTMyNjM3Yzg1YzkzL3NlYzoxM2U0YTk3MTY0OTk0ODUzOGVlNmUzMjYzN2M4NWM5M18xL2ZyYWc6NTM2ZGE5M2NkYWNjNDhmMGI1ZDI1YTQ0NjlmODUwYjAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MzZkYTkzY2RhY2M0OGYwYjVkMjVhNDQ2OWY4NTBiMF84NQ_9f893044-4964-412d-9d61-c1ef97f5daf7">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjEzZTRhOTcxNjQ5OTQ4NTM4ZWU2ZTMyNjM3Yzg1YzkzL3NlYzoxM2U0YTk3MTY0OTk0ODUzOGVlNmUzMjYzN2M4NWM5M18xL2ZyYWc6NTM2ZGE5M2NkYWNjNDhmMGI1ZDI1YTQ0NjlmODUwYjAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MzZkYTkzY2RhY2M0OGYwYjVkMjVhNDQ2OWY4NTBiMF8yMzE_6109a636-68e6-496b-93c2-2ff937467a54">2020-12-23</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjEzZTRhOTcxNjQ5OTQ4NTM4ZWU2ZTMyNjM3Yzg1YzkzL3NlYzoxM2U0YTk3MTY0OTk0ODUzOGVlNmUzMjYzN2M4NWM5M18xL2ZyYWc6NTM2ZGE5M2NkYWNjNDhmMGI1ZDI1YTQ0NjlmODUwYjAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MzZkYTkzY2RhY2M0OGYwYjVkMjVhNDQ2OWY4NTBiMF8yMzc_efdc0ac0-ae5e-4c33-a86c-1aed36c61250">AMERICAN EXPRESS CREDIT CORP</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
      contextRef="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjEzZTRhOTcxNjQ5OTQ4NTM4ZWU2ZTMyNjM3Yzg1YzkzL3NlYzoxM2U0YTk3MTY0OTk0ODUzOGVlNmUzMjYzN2M4NWM5M18xL2ZyYWc6NTM2ZGE5M2NkYWNjNDhmMGI1ZDI1YTQ0NjlmODUwYjAvdGFibGU6NzZkZDRiZTYzN2E0NDYxNTlmY2IwNmVkZjI0NWYwYTQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo3NmRkNGJlNjM3YTQ0NjE1OWZjYjA2ZWRmMjQ1ZjBhNF8wLTAtMS0xLTA_e186e8fb-c399-4952-8376-73e070fb2944">DE</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber
      contextRef="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjEzZTRhOTcxNjQ5OTQ4NTM4ZWU2ZTMyNjM3Yzg1YzkzL3NlYzoxM2U0YTk3MTY0OTk0ODUzOGVlNmUzMjYzN2M4NWM5M18xL2ZyYWc6NTM2ZGE5M2NkYWNjNDhmMGI1ZDI1YTQ0NjlmODUwYjAvdGFibGU6NzZkZDRiZTYzN2E0NDYxNTlmY2IwNmVkZjI0NWYwYTQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo3NmRkNGJlNjM3YTQ0NjE1OWZjYjA2ZWRmMjQ1ZjBhNF8wLTItMS0xLTA_846a4a52-85d9-4ed5-9d0f-d770853fb186">1-6908</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
      contextRef="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjEzZTRhOTcxNjQ5OTQ4NTM4ZWU2ZTMyNjM3Yzg1YzkzL3NlYzoxM2U0YTk3MTY0OTk0ODUzOGVlNmUzMjYzN2M4NWM5M18xL2ZyYWc6NTM2ZGE5M2NkYWNjNDhmMGI1ZDI1YTQ0NjlmODUwYjAvdGFibGU6NzZkZDRiZTYzN2E0NDYxNTlmY2IwNmVkZjI0NWYwYTQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo3NmRkNGJlNjM3YTQ0NjE1OWZjYjA2ZWRmMjQ1ZjBhNF8wLTQtMS0xLTA_dc0ed5b7-0664-4c31-9e35-15104bde0247">11-1988350</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1
      contextRef="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjEzZTRhOTcxNjQ5OTQ4NTM4ZWU2ZTMyNjM3Yzg1YzkzL3NlYzoxM2U0YTk3MTY0OTk0ODUzOGVlNmUzMjYzN2M4NWM5M18xL2ZyYWc6NTM2ZGE5M2NkYWNjNDhmMGI1ZDI1YTQ0NjlmODUwYjAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MzZkYTkzY2RhY2M0OGYwYjVkMjVhNDQ2OWY4NTBiMF8zMDY_d00dd7b5-085a-41ce-b794-726928bb9692">200 Vesey Street</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown
      contextRef="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjEzZTRhOTcxNjQ5OTQ4NTM4ZWU2ZTMyNjM3Yzg1YzkzL3NlYzoxM2U0YTk3MTY0OTk0ODUzOGVlNmUzMjYzN2M4NWM5M18xL2ZyYWc6NTM2ZGE5M2NkYWNjNDhmMGI1ZDI1YTQ0NjlmODUwYjAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MzZkYTkzY2RhY2M0OGYwYjVkMjVhNDQ2OWY4NTBiMF8zMTE_4017631f-0e14-4fb9-ab34-47b29fe3d58e">New York</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince
      contextRef="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjEzZTRhOTcxNjQ5OTQ4NTM4ZWU2ZTMyNjM3Yzg1YzkzL3NlYzoxM2U0YTk3MTY0OTk0ODUzOGVlNmUzMjYzN2M4NWM5M18xL2ZyYWc6NTM2ZGE5M2NkYWNjNDhmMGI1ZDI1YTQ0NjlmODUwYjAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MzZkYTkzY2RhY2M0OGYwYjVkMjVhNDQ2OWY4NTBiMF8zMTU_f514f759-4e86-4a8d-ac99-bd6aac2fc92d">NY</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode
      contextRef="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjEzZTRhOTcxNjQ5OTQ4NTM4ZWU2ZTMyNjM3Yzg1YzkzL3NlYzoxM2U0YTk3MTY0OTk0ODUzOGVlNmUzMjYzN2M4NWM5M18xL2ZyYWc6NTM2ZGE5M2NkYWNjNDhmMGI1ZDI1YTQ0NjlmODUwYjAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MzZkYTkzY2RhY2M0OGYwYjVkMjVhNDQ2OWY4NTBiMF8zMTg_67b1ec16-a522-4e67-92e0-bd944ba5a1ca">10285</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode
      contextRef="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjEzZTRhOTcxNjQ5OTQ4NTM4ZWU2ZTMyNjM3Yzg1YzkzL3NlYzoxM2U0YTk3MTY0OTk0ODUzOGVlNmUzMjYzN2M4NWM5M18xL2ZyYWc6NTM2ZGE5M2NkYWNjNDhmMGI1ZDI1YTQ0NjlmODUwYjAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MzZkYTkzY2RhY2M0OGYwYjVkMjVhNDQ2OWY4NTBiMF8zNzc_876c5a06-45d5-49bf-b191-f02c9bc71c40">212</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber
      contextRef="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjEzZTRhOTcxNjQ5OTQ4NTM4ZWU2ZTMyNjM3Yzg1YzkzL3NlYzoxM2U0YTk3MTY0OTk0ODUzOGVlNmUzMjYzN2M4NWM5M18xL2ZyYWc6NTM2ZGE5M2NkYWNjNDhmMGI1ZDI1YTQ0NjlmODUwYjAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MzZkYTkzY2RhY2M0OGYwYjVkMjVhNDQ2OWY4NTBiMF8zODE_e2aff5d4-b0da-4613-b13e-b544a20c9846">640-2000</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications
      contextRef="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjEzZTRhOTcxNjQ5OTQ4NTM4ZWU2ZTMyNjM3Yzg1YzkzL3NlYzoxM2U0YTk3MTY0OTk0ODUzOGVlNmUzMjYzN2M4NWM5M18xL2ZyYWc6NTM2ZGE5M2NkYWNjNDhmMGI1ZDI1YTQ0NjlmODUwYjAvdGFibGU6YTY2OTg4MzI2YTI2NDk2YjhiMzZmNjczZTdkNzQ3MjYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTphNjY5ODgzMjZhMjY0OTZiOGIzNmY2NzNlN2Q3NDcyNl8wLTAtMS0xLTA_396a2e0f-4e3f-48f3-b019-e0f647b6a225">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial
      contextRef="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjEzZTRhOTcxNjQ5OTQ4NTM4ZWU2ZTMyNjM3Yzg1YzkzL3NlYzoxM2U0YTk3MTY0OTk0ODUzOGVlNmUzMjYzN2M4NWM5M18xL2ZyYWc6NTM2ZGE5M2NkYWNjNDhmMGI1ZDI1YTQ0NjlmODUwYjAvdGFibGU6YTY2OTg4MzI2YTI2NDk2YjhiMzZmNjczZTdkNzQ3MjYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTphNjY5ODgzMjZhMjY0OTZiOGIzNmY2NzNlN2Q3NDcyNl8xLTAtMS0xLTA_ad5964d6-156d-471f-8ab4-5ce2f79b49a1">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer
      contextRef="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjEzZTRhOTcxNjQ5OTQ4NTM4ZWU2ZTMyNjM3Yzg1YzkzL3NlYzoxM2U0YTk3MTY0OTk0ODUzOGVlNmUzMjYzN2M4NWM5M18xL2ZyYWc6NTM2ZGE5M2NkYWNjNDhmMGI1ZDI1YTQ0NjlmODUwYjAvdGFibGU6YTY2OTg4MzI2YTI2NDk2YjhiMzZmNjczZTdkNzQ3MjYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTphNjY5ODgzMjZhMjY0OTZiOGIzNmY2NzNlN2Q3NDcyNl8yLTAtMS0xLTA_f00a3bf2-1e40-46ad-8adf-15498ee808c8">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
      contextRef="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjEzZTRhOTcxNjQ5OTQ4NTM4ZWU2ZTMyNjM3Yzg1YzkzL3NlYzoxM2U0YTk3MTY0OTk0ODUzOGVlNmUzMjYzN2M4NWM5M18xL2ZyYWc6NTM2ZGE5M2NkYWNjNDhmMGI1ZDI1YTQ0NjlmODUwYjAvdGFibGU6YTY2OTg4MzI2YTI2NDk2YjhiMzZmNjczZTdkNzQ3MjYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTphNjY5ODgzMjZhMjY0OTZiOGIzNmY2NzNlN2Q3NDcyNl8zLTAtMS0xLTA_2da9b066-5e40-482c-a6a5-a6dcc6c1b775">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjEzZTRhOTcxNjQ5OTQ4NTM4ZWU2ZTMyNjM3Yzg1YzkzL3NlYzoxM2U0YTk3MTY0OTk0ODUzOGVlNmUzMjYzN2M4NWM5M18xL2ZyYWc6NTM2ZGE5M2NkYWNjNDhmMGI1ZDI1YTQ0NjlmODUwYjAvdGFibGU6NTgzODcwNDExMWU3NGQyMTk2MGVlMTExZjUwZTJiYWYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1ODM4NzA0MTExZTc0ZDIxOTYwZWUxMTFmNTBlMmJhZl8xLTAtMS0xLTA_7d363f85-913d-43b8-86cd-ac77b4f60449">0.625 percent Senior Notes, due November 22, 2021</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjEzZTRhOTcxNjQ5OTQ4NTM4ZWU2ZTMyNjM3Yzg1YzkzL3NlYzoxM2U0YTk3MTY0OTk0ODUzOGVlNmUzMjYzN2M4NWM5M18xL2ZyYWc6NTM2ZGE5M2NkYWNjNDhmMGI1ZDI1YTQ0NjlmODUwYjAvdGFibGU6NTgzODcwNDExMWU3NGQyMTk2MGVlMTExZjUwZTJiYWYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1ODM4NzA0MTExZTc0ZDIxOTYwZWUxMTFmNTBlMmJhZl8xLTItMS0xLTA_2325bff4-80a9-4b4b-b765-610ebef5fdbd">AXP/21</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjEzZTRhOTcxNjQ5OTQ4NTM4ZWU2ZTMyNjM3Yzg1YzkzL3NlYzoxM2U0YTk3MTY0OTk0ODUzOGVlNmUzMjYzN2M4NWM5M18xL2ZyYWc6NTM2ZGE5M2NkYWNjNDhmMGI1ZDI1YTQ0NjlmODUwYjAvdGFibGU6NTgzODcwNDExMWU3NGQyMTk2MGVlMTExZjUwZTJiYWYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1ODM4NzA0MTExZTc0ZDIxOTYwZWUxMTFmNTBlMmJhZl8xLTQtMS0xLTA_7de8668f-4e68-4976-9eee-a490ddf1d0f2">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
      contextRef="i595106035f69480587edad32f4928e81_D20201223-20201223"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjEzZTRhOTcxNjQ5OTQ4NTM4ZWU2ZTMyNjM3Yzg1YzkzL3NlYzoxM2U0YTk3MTY0OTk0ODUzOGVlNmUzMjYzN2M4NWM5M18xL2ZyYWc6NTM2ZGE5M2NkYWNjNDhmMGI1ZDI1YTQ0NjlmODUwYjAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo1MzZkYTkzY2RhY2M0OGYwYjVkMjVhNDQ2OWY4NTBiMF85ODY_a87dbbab-420d-4885-af2b-6b8bdf2c67cb">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
