Financial Instruments (Cash flow hedges) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flow hedges
Hedge Amounts Excluded From Assessment Of Effectiveness Insignificant Amounts	insignificant amounts	insignificant amounts
Cash Flow Hedge [Member]
Cash flow hedges
Gain (loss) recognized in AOCI	201	(640)
Gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into earnings	(357)	(1,308)
Pre-tax gain (loss) included in AOCI related to cash flow hedges of forecasted transactions	(831)
Expected gain (loss) to be recorded in the next 12 months	419
Maximum term of hedged forecasted transactions	20	21
Hedge ineffectiveness gain (loss)	4	31
Hedge Amounts Excluded From Assessment Of Effectiveness Insignificant Amounts	insignificant gains and losses	insignificant gains and losses
Cash Flow Hedge [Member] \| Interest Rate Contract [Member]
Cash flow hedges
Gain (loss) recognized in AOCI	(158)	(302)
Gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into earnings	(494)	(821)
Cash Flow Hedge [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Cash flow hedges
Gain (loss) recognized in AOCI	359	(338)
Gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into earnings	137	(487)
Net Investment Hedge [Member]
Cash flow hedges
Hedge ineffectiveness gain (loss)	(874)	(1,345)
Net Investment Hedge [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Cash flow hedges
Gain (loss) recognized in AOCI	(2,905)	1,232
Gain (loss) reclassified from AOCI into earnings	27	(716)
Fair Value Hedges [Member]
Cash flow hedges
Hedge ineffectiveness gain (loss)	(303)	(459)

The string type tag used for hedge amounts excluded from assessment of effectiveness that are insignificant.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Maximum length of time over which the entity is hedging its exposure to the variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions, excluding those forecasted transactions related to the payment of variable interest on existing financial instruments, in any date format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Accumulated balance in equity due to changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge of forecasted transactions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	gecc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The estimated net amount of existing gains or losses on cash flow hedges at the reporting date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next 12 months.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7668309&loc=d3e80748-113994

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph b(2)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

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- Definition

The effective portion of net gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 44C

-Subparagraph b

-Clause 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 205G

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624171-113959

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4D

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624177-113959

+ Details

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- Definition

The effective portion of gains and losses (net) on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments that was recognized in other comprehensive income during the current period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 205G

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624171-113959

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 44C

-Subparagraph b

-Clause 2

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

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- Definition

The portion of a hedge deemed to be ineffective that is reflected in current period results of operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (d)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624171-113959

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 25

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6886632&loc=d3e76258-113986

+ Details

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- Details

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