Investment Securities (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Available-for-sale investment securities with gross unrealized losses and length of time
Estimated Fair Value, Less than 12 months	$ 4,311	$ 477
Estimated Fair Value, 12 months or more	52	0
Available-for-sale investment securities with gross unrealized losses
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 months	(83)	(1)
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 months or more	(1)	0
State and municipal obligations
Available-for-sale investment securities with gross unrealized losses and length of time
Estimated Fair Value, Less than 12 months	52	0
Estimated Fair Value, 12 months or more	0	0
Available-for-sale investment securities with gross unrealized losses
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 months	(10)	0
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 months or more	0	0
U.S. Government treasury obligations
Available-for-sale investment securities with gross unrealized losses and length of time
Estimated Fair Value, Less than 12 months	3,710	477
Estimated Fair Value, 12 months or more	52	0
Available-for-sale investment securities with gross unrealized losses
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 months	(72)	(1)
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 months or more	(1)	0
Foreign government bonds and obligations
Available-for-sale investment securities with gross unrealized losses and length of time
Estimated Fair Value, Less than 12 months	549	0
Estimated Fair Value, 12 months or more	0	0
Available-for-sale investment securities with gross unrealized losses
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 months	(1)	0
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 months or more	$ 0	$ 0

No definition available.

Name:	axp_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedAggregateLossesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Unrealized Loss Position1

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleUnrealizedLossPosition1Abstract
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale), in continuous unrealized loss position for more than 12 months, without allowance for credit loss. Includes beneficial interest in securitized financial asset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124269663&loc=SL82922890-210455

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126970911&loc=d3e27337-111563

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121590138&loc=SL82922954-210456

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLonger
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of accumulated unrealized loss on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale), in continuous unrealized loss position for 12 months or longer, without allowance for credit loss. Includes beneficial interest in securitized financial asset.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAccumulatedLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale), in continuous unrealized loss position for less than 12 months, without allowance for credit loss. Includes beneficial interest in securitized financial asset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126970911&loc=d3e27337-111563

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124269663&loc=SL82922890-210455

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121590138&loc=SL82922954-210456

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12Months
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of accumulated unrealized loss on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale), in continuous unrealized loss position for less than 12 months, without allowance for credit loss. Includes beneficial interest in securitized financial asset.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAccumulatedLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: