Revenues from Services (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended					3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012 Significant Associated Companies [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Significant Associated Companies [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Significant Associated Companies [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Significant Associated Companies [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Significant Associated Companies [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Garanti Bank [Member]
Subsidiary Revenue From Services [Line Items]
Interest On Loans	$ 4,708		$ 5,038	$ 14,328		$ 15,195
Equipment leased to others	2,625		2,855	8,020		8,529
Fees	1,173		1,227	3,493		3,531
Investment Income	636		583	1,971		2,004
Financing leases	392		554	1,455		1,837
Premiums earned by insurance activities	433		465	1,294		1,437
Real estate investments	464		379	1,202		1,211
Associated companies	451		389	1,146		1,997
Other items	453		493	1,270		1,634
Revenues from services (Note 9)	11,335		11,983	34,179		37,375
Net other-than-temporary impairments on investment securities	25		68	89		186
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Equity Investments														690
Assets	561,602	[1]		561,602	[1]		584,536	[1]	113,336		113,336		104,554
Financing Receivable, Net	271,623			271,623			288,847		61,946		61,946		57,477
Liabilities	479,542	[1]		479,542	[1]		506,736	[1]	80,802		80,802		77,208
Deposits	45,196			45,196			43,115		24,957		24,957		20,980
Debt									43,783		43,783		46,170
Revenues	10,633		10,961	31,950		34,491			4,324	4,389	13,515	12,056
Net earnings	$ 1,917		$ 1,696	$ 6,060		$ 5,419			$ 954	$ 607	$ 2,255	$ 1,695

[1] (a) Our consolidated assets at September 30, 2012 include total assets of $47,623 million of certain variable interest entities (VIEs) that can only be used to settle the liabilities of those VIEs. These assets include net financing receivables of $40,422 million and investment securities of $4,797 million. Our consolidated liabilities at September 30, 2012 include liabilities of certain VIEs for which the VIE creditors do not have recourse to GECC. These liabilities include non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities (CSEs) of $30,270 million. See Note 13.