Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Apr. 15, 2019
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
Trading Symbol	AXP
Entity Central Index Key	0000004962
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2019
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		835,080,540
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false