Shareowners' Equity (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Preferred Stock, Value, Issued	$ 0					$ 0					$ 0		$ 0		$ 0
Common Stock, Value, Issued	0					0					0		0		0
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Before Reclassifications Net Of Tax											800		76		(3,306)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment for Sale of Securities Included in Net Income, Tax											356		1,539		1,127
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent											1,156		1,615		(2,179)
Accumulated other comprehensive income
Accumulated other comprehensive income, beginning balance					(2,096)					(3,711)	(2,096)		(3,711)
Investment securities - net											707		606		14
Currency translation adjustments - net											280		984		(2,729)
Benefit plans											(173)		(183)		54
Accumulated other comprehensive income, ending balance	(940)					(2,096)					(940)		(2,096)		(3,711)
Other capital
Additional Paid in Capital, Beginning Balance					27,628					27,627	27,628		27,627		27,592
Contributions and other											3,958		1		35
Additional Paid in Capital, Ending Balance	31,586					27,628					31,586		27,628		27,627
Retained earnings
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance					51,578					45,068	51,578		45,068		42,863
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	1,503		1,568	1,569	1,575	1,420		1,455	1,810	1,825	6,215		6,510		2,155
Other											(6,549)		0		50
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance	51,244					51,578					51,244		51,578		45,068
Total equity
GE shareowners' equity balance at January 1	81,890					77,110					81,890		77,110		68,984	70,833
Noncontrolling interests(c) (Note 11)	707	[1]				690	[1]				707	[1]	690	[1]	1,164	2,048
Total equity balance at December 31	82,597					77,800					82,597		77,800		70,148
Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]
Retained earnings
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance																1,645
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance																1,645
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive income
Accumulated other comprehensive income, beginning balance																(1,532)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, ending balance						$ (2,096)							$ (2,096)		$ (3,711)	$ (1,532)

[1] (c) Included accumulated other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests of $(129) million and $(141) million at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.