Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Feb. 08, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Entity Registrant Name	Baker Hughes a GE Co
Entity Central Index Key	0001701605
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 12,108,399
Class A
Entity Common Shares Outstanding (in shares)		514,871,270
Class B
Entity Common Shares Outstanding (in shares)		521,543,095