Debt (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding balance	$ 38,675	$ 42,952
Unamortized Underwriting Fees	(52)
Long-term Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding balance	$ 38,675	$ 42,952
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt (as a percent)	2.22%	2.49%
Unamortized Underwriting Fees	$ (52)	$ (64)
Parent Company
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding balance	22,314	22,810
Fixed Rate Senior Notes | Parent Company | Long-term Debt | American Express Company
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding balance	$ 18,324	$ 18,251
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt (as a percent)	3.02%	3.25%
Year-End Interest Rate with Swaps (as a percent)	2.03%	2.09%
Fixed Rate Senior Notes | Subsidiaries | Long-term Debt | American Express Credit Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding balance	$ 2,078	$ 6,746
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt (as a percent)	2.80%	2.38%
Year-End Interest Rate with Swaps (as a percent)	1.32%	1.67%
Fixed Rate Senior Notes | Subsidiaries | Long-term Debt | Lending Trust
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding balance	$ 8,199	$ 8,325
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt (as a percent)	2.01%	2.74%
Year-End Interest Rate with Swaps (as a percent)	1.82%	2.55%
Floating Rate Senior Notes | Parent Company | Long-term Debt | American Express Company
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding balance	$ 3,300	$ 4,000
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt (as a percent)	0.69%	0.84%
Year-End Interest Rate with Swaps (as a percent)	0.00%	0.00%
Floating Rate Senior Notes | Subsidiaries | Long-term Debt | American Express Credit Corporation
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding balance	$ 300	$ 300
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt (as a percent)	0.87%	0.93%
Year-End Interest Rate with Swaps (as a percent)	0.00%	0.00%
Floating Rate Senior Notes | Subsidiaries | Long-term Debt | Lending Trust
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding balance	$ 3,325	$ 4,125
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt (as a percent)	0.49%	0.51%
Year-End Interest Rate with Swaps (as a percent)	0.00%	0.00%
Fixed Rate Subordinated Notes | Parent Company | Long-term Debt | American Express Company
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding balance	$ 599	$ 599
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt (as a percent)	3.63%	3.63%
Year-End Interest Rate with Swaps (as a percent)	1.38%	1.43%
Fixed Rate Subordinated Notes | Subsidiaries | Long-term Debt | Lending Trust
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding balance	$ 212	$ 246
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt (as a percent)	2.72%	2.80%
Year-End Interest Rate with Swaps (as a percent)	0.00%	0.00%
Floating Rate Subordinated Notes | Subsidiaries | Long-term Debt | Lending Trust
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding balance	$ 79	$ 79
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt (as a percent)	0.68%	0.73%
Year-End Interest Rate with Swaps (as a percent)	0.00%	0.00%
Floating Rate Subordinated Notes | Charge Trust
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding balance	$ 2,000	$ 0
Year-End Interest Rate with Swaps (as a percent)	0.00%	0.00%
Floating Rate Subordinated Notes | Charge Trust | Long-term Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt (as a percent)	0.40%	0.00%
Fixed Rate Instruments | Subsidiaries | Financed Leases | Long-term Debt | Other Subsidiaries
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding balance	$ 14	$ 17
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt (as a percent)	5.49%	5.54%
Year-End Interest Rate with Swaps (as a percent)	0.00%	0.00%
Floating Rate Borrowings | Subsidiaries | Long-term Debt | Other Subsidiaries
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding balance	$ 297	$ 328
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt (as a percent)	0.42%	0.42%
Year-End Interest Rate with Swaps (as a percent)	0.00%	0.00%