Guarantor Financial Information (Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Cash flows - operating activities
Cash from (used for) operating activities - continuing operations	$ 967	$ 1,897
Cash from (used for) operating activities - discontinued operations	(658)	(1,252)
Cash from (used for) operating activities	309	644
Cash flows - investing activities
Cash from (used for) investing activities - continuing operations	4,520	24,672
Cash from (used for) investing activities - discontinued operations	(1,871)	7,112
Cash from (used for) investing activities	2,649	31,783
Cash flows - financing activities
Cash from (used for) financing activities - continuing operations	(12,185)	(22,007)
Cash from (used for) financing activities - discontinued operations	1,907	(112)
Cash from (used for) financing activities	(10,278)	(22,119)
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents	133	31
Increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	(7,187)	10,340
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year	49,558	90,878
Cash and equivalents at March 31	42,372	101,217
Less cash and equivalents of discontinued operations at March 31	808	26,143
Cash and equivalents of continuing operations at March 31	41,564	75,075
Parent Company Guarantor (General Electric)
Cash flows - operating activities
Cash from (used for) operating activities - continuing operations	(9,060)	(18,151)
Cash from (used for) operating activities - discontinued operations	(242)	(308)
Cash from (used for) operating activities	(9,302)	(18,459)
Cash flows - investing activities
Cash from (used for) investing activities - continuing operations	3,660	12,177
Cash from (used for) investing activities - discontinued operations	0	0
Cash from (used for) investing activities	3,660	12,177
Cash flows - financing activities
Cash from (used for) financing activities - continuing operations	3,713	4,866
Cash from (used for) financing activities - discontinued operations	0	0
Cash from (used for) financing activities	3,713	4,866
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents	0	0
Increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	(1,930)	(1,416)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year	2,558	4,137
Cash and equivalents at March 31	628	2,721
Less cash and equivalents of discontinued operations at March 31	0	0
Cash and equivalents of continuing operations at March 31	628	2,721
Subsidiary Issuer (GE Capital)
Cash flows - operating activities
Cash from (used for) operating activities - continuing operations	13	352
Cash from (used for) operating activities - discontinued operations	0	0
Cash from (used for) operating activities	13	352
Cash flows - investing activities
Cash from (used for) investing activities - continuing operations	(13)	(517)
Cash from (used for) investing activities - discontinued operations	0	0
Cash from (used for) investing activities	(13)	(517)
Cash flows - financing activities
Cash from (used for) financing activities - continuing operations	0	165
Cash from (used for) financing activities - discontinued operations	0	0
Cash from (used for) financing activities	0	165
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents	0	0
Increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	0	0
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year	0	0
Cash and equivalents at March 31	0	0
Less cash and equivalents of discontinued operations at March 31	0	0
Cash and equivalents of continuing operations at March 31	0	0
Subsidiary Guarantor (Subsidiary)
Cash flows - operating activities
Cash from (used for) operating activities - continuing operations	628	(924)
Cash from (used for) operating activities - discontinued operations	0	682
Cash from (used for) operating activities	628	(242)
Cash flows - investing activities
Cash from (used for) investing activities - continuing operations	584	1,192
Cash from (used for) investing activities - discontinued operations	0	0
Cash from (used for) investing activities	584	1,192
Cash flows - financing activities
Cash from (used for) financing activities - continuing operations	(1,212)	(944)
Cash from (used for) financing activities - discontinued operations	0	0
Cash from (used for) financing activities	(1,212)	(944)
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents	0	0
Increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	0	6
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year	3	0
Cash and equivalents at March 31	3	6
Less cash and equivalents of discontinued operations at March 31	0	0
Cash and equivalents of continuing operations at March 31	3	6
Non Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash flows - operating activities
Cash from (used for) operating activities - continuing operations	76,854	(17,005)
Cash from (used for) operating activities - discontinued operations	(419)	(1,370)
Cash from (used for) operating activities	76,435	(18,376)
Cash flows - investing activities
Cash from (used for) investing activities - continuing operations	(69,441)	76,560
Cash from (used for) investing activities - discontinued operations	(1,871)	7,112
Cash from (used for) investing activities	(71,312)	83,672
Cash flows - financing activities
Cash from (used for) financing activities - continuing operations	(13,062)	(47,916)
Cash from (used for) financing activities - discontinued operations	1,907	(112)
Cash from (used for) financing activities	(11,155)	(48,028)
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents	133	31
Increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	(5,897)	17,300
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year	48,423	107,350
Cash and equivalents at March 31	42,527	124,649
Less cash and equivalents of discontinued operations at March 31	808	26,143
Cash and equivalents of continuing operations at March 31	41,718	98,506
Consolidation adjustments
Cash flows - operating activities
Cash from (used for) operating activities - continuing operations	(67,468)	37,625
Cash from (used for) operating activities - discontinued operations	3	(256)
Cash from (used for) operating activities	(67,465)	37,369
Cash flows - investing activities
Cash from (used for) investing activities - continuing operations	69,730	(64,741)
Cash from (used for) investing activities - discontinued operations	0	0
Cash from (used for) investing activities	69,730	(64,741)
Cash flows - financing activities
Cash from (used for) financing activities - continuing operations	(1,624)	21,823
Cash from (used for) financing activities - discontinued operations	0	0
Cash from (used for) financing activities	(1,624)	21,823
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents	0	0
Increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	640	(5,550)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year	(1,426)	(20,609)
Cash and equivalents at March 31	(786)	(26,158)
Less cash and equivalents of discontinued operations at March 31	0	0
Cash and equivalents of continuing operations at March 31	$ (786)	$ (26,158)