Financing Receivables and Allowance for Losses on Financing Receivables (Allowance for Losses on Financing Receivables ) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009 Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member] Troubled Debt Restructuring [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Energy Financial Services Financing Receivables [Member] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Americas CLL Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Americas CLL Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Americas CLL Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Americas CLL Financing Receivables [Member] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Europe CLL Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Europe CLL Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Europe CLL Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Europe CLL Financing Receivables [Member] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Asia CLL Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Asia CLL Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Asia CLL Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Asia CLL Financing Receivables [Member] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Other CLL Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Other CLL Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Other CLL Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Other CLL Financing Receivables [Member] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] CLL Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] CLL Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] CLL Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] CLL Financing Receivables [Member] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Energy Financial Services Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Energy Financial Services Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Energy Financial Services Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] GECAS Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] GECAS Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] GECAS Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] GECAS Financing Receivables [Member] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Other Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Other Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Other Financing Receivables [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] Other Financing Receivables [Member] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] Debt Real Estate [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] Debt Real Estate [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] Debt Real Estate [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] Debt Real Estate [Member] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] Business Properties Real Estate [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] Business Properties Real Estate [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] Business Properties Real Estate [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] Business Properties Real Estate [Member] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] Non US residential mortgages [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] Non US residential mortgages [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] Non US residential mortgages [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] Non US residential mortgages [Member] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] Non US installment and revolving credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] Non US installment and revolving credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] Non US installment and revolving credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] Non US installment and revolving credit [Member] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] US installment and revolving credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] US installment and revolving credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] US installment and revolving credit [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] US installment and revolving credit [Member] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] Non US auto [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] Non US auto [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] Non US auto [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] Non US auto [Member] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] Consumer Other Financing Receivable [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] Consumer Other Financing Receivable [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] Consumer Other Financing Receivable [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] Consumer Other Financing Receivable [Member] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Total balance	$ 4,985	$ 6,190	$ 7,919				$ 1,041	$ 1,530	$ 2,045		$ 490	$ 889	$ 1,288		$ 445	$ 400	$ 429		$ 80	$ 157	$ 222		$ 6	$ 4	$ 6		$ 1,021	$ 1,450	$ 1,945		$ 9	$ 26	$ 22	$ 8	$ 17	$ 20		$ 3	$ 37	$ 58		$ 320	$ 1,089	$ 1,488		$ 279	$ 949	$ 1,292		$ 41	$ 140	$ 196		$ 3,624	$ 3,571	$ 4,386			$ 480	$ 546	$ 689		$ 623	$ 717	$ 937		$ 2,282	$ 2,008	$ 2,333		$ 67	$ 101	$ 168		$ 172	$ 199	$ 259
Provision charged	3,891	3,951	7,085				542	607	1,589		109	281	1,059		374	195	269		37	105	153		13	3	(2)		533	584	1,479		4	0	65	4	0	12		1	23	33		72	324	910		29	242	764		43	82	146		3,277	3,020	4,586	(77)		111	117	165		350	490	1,047		2,666	2,241	3,018		18	30	91		132	142	265
Other	(98)	(156)	(221)				(78)	(92)	(55)		(51)	(96)	(11)		(3)	(5)	(37)		(3)	13	(6)		(1)	(3)	(1)		(58)	(91)	(55)		0	(1)	0	0	0	0		(20)	0	0		(44)	2	2		(6)	2	10		(38)	0	(8)		24	(66)	(168)			8	(13)	(38)		26	(30)	(68)		(24)	1	(6)		(4)	(4)	(61)		18	(20)	5
Gross write-offs	(6,582)	(7,139)	(9,977)				(1,156)	(1,256)	(1,935)		(568)	(700)	(1,136)		(390)	(286)	(440)		(134)	(214)	(181)		(10)	(2)	(1)		(1,102)	(1,202)	(1,758)		(24)	(4)	(72)	(13)	(3)	(96)		(17)	(47)	(9)		(810)	(747)	(964)		(703)	(603)	(838)		(107)	(144)	(126)		(4,616)	(5,136)	(7,078)			(261)	(296)	(338)		(1,046)	(1,257)	(1,733)		(2,906)	(3,095)	(4,300)		(146)	(216)	(313)		(257)	(272)	(394)
Recoveries	1,584	1,615	1,597				203	226	215		111	116	130		64	67	62		23	31	22		0	0	0		198	214	214		3	9	1	0	0	0		2	3	0		13	22	4		10	16	1		3	6	3		1,368	1,367	1,378			76	49	75		576	577	585		538	528	468		98	123	159		80	90	91
Impact of adoption of ASU 2009 16 & 17				9,435		28				2,231				1,246				575				234				10				2,065							104				34				1,536				1,355				181					5,668				825				1,106				3,153				292				292
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses, Period Increase (Decrease)					$ 77