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Fair Value Measurements (Non-Recurring Fair Value Measurements) (Details) (Non-recurring, Fair value adjustments, USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]      
Cost and equity method investments $ (1,462)us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure $ (208)us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure  
Long-lived assets, including real-estate (602)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse (64)us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse  
Financing receivables and loans held for sale (4,000)ge_FinancingReceivablesAndLoansHeldForSale (119)ge_FinancingReceivablesAndLoansHeldForSale  
Assets Fair Value Disclosure (6,064)us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure (391)us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure  
Level 2
     
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]      
Cost and equity method investments 0us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
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  2us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
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Long-lived assets, including real-estate 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
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  364us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse
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Financing receivables and loans held for sale 0ge_FinancingReceivablesAndLoansHeldForSale
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  49ge_FinancingReceivablesAndLoansHeldForSale
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Assets Fair Value Disclosure 0us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
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Level 3
     
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]      
Cost and equity method investments 2,151us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
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  399us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
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Long-lived assets, including real-estate 2,351us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse
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  836us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse
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Financing receivables and loans held for sale 41,644ge_FinancingReceivablesAndLoansHeldForSale
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  808ge_FinancingReceivablesAndLoansHeldForSale
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Assets Fair Value Disclosure $ 46,146us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
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  $ 2,043us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
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