Financing Receivables and Allowance For Losses On Financing Receivables (Net Investment in Financing Leases) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	$ 279,189	$ 295,037
Less allowance for losses	(5,205)	(6,190)	(6,931)	(7,919)
Financing receivables	273,984	288,847
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	141,779	148,570
Less allowance for losses	(1,290)	(1,530)	(1,847)	(2,045)
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Americas CLL Financing Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	77,241	80,505
Less allowance for losses	(662)	(889)	(1,124)	(1,288)
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Europe CLL Financing Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	34,722	36,899
Less allowance for losses	(484)	(400)	(433)	(429)
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Asia CLL Financing Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	11,313	11,635
Less allowance for losses	(87)	(157)	(180)	(222)
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Other CLL Financing Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	711	436
Less allowance for losses	(1)	(4)	(6)	(6)
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | CLL Financing Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	123,987	129,475
Less allowance for losses	(1,234)	(1,450)	(1,743)	(1,945)
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Energy Financial Services Financing Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	5,159	5,912
Less allowance for losses	(12)	(26)	(35)	(22)
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | GECAS Financing Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	12,046	11,901
Less allowance for losses	(32)	(17)	(15)	(20)
Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member] | Other Financing Receivables [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	587	1,282
Less allowance for losses	(12)	(37)	(54)	(58)
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	27,710	32,749
Less allowance for losses	(787)	(1,089)	(1,276)	(1,488)
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] | Debt Real Estate [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	22,409	24,501
Less allowance for losses	(682)	(949)	(1,092)	(1,292)
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member] | Business Properties Real Estate [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	5,301	8,248
Less allowance for losses	(105)	(140)	(184)	(196)
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	109,700	113,718
Less allowance for losses	(3,128)	(3,571)	(3,808)	(4,386)
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | Non US residential mortgages [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	33,826	35,550
Less allowance for losses	(481)	(546)	(667)	(689)
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | Non US installment and revolving credit [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	17,960	18,544
Less allowance for losses	(665)	(717)	(934)	(937)
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | US installment and revolving credit [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	45,531	46,689
Less allowance for losses	(1,724)	(2,008)	(1,846)	(2,333)
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | Non US auto [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	4,740	5,691
Less allowance for losses	(79)	(101)	(143)	(168)
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | Consumer Other Financing Receivable [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	7,643	7,244
Less allowance for losses	(179)	(199)	(218)	(259)
Consumer Portfolio Segment [Member] | Consumer Other Portfolio [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Net of Deferred Income	$ 7,643	$ 7,244