Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders (Income)	$ 129	$ (1,585)	$ 410	$ (1,171)
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders (Shares)	742	747	745	759
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The AES Corporation common stockholders, net of tax	$ 0.17	$ (2.12)	$ 0.55	$ (1.54)
EFFECT OF DILUTIVE SECURITIES
Stock options (Shares)	1	0
Restricted stock units (Shares)	4	0	4	0
Restricted stock units (Per Share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00
Diluted Earnings Per Share (Income)	$ 129	$ (1,585)	$ 410	$ (1,171)
Diluted Earnings Per Share (Shares)	747	747	749	759
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$ 0.17	$ (2.12)	$ 0.55	$ (1.54)
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period		0.2		1.3
Shares of common stock issued under the Company's profit sharing plan			1.0
Exercise price exceeds market price [Member] | Stock Options [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount			6.1	6.4
Exercise price exceeds market price [Member] | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount			1.4	1.2
Anti-dilutive [Member] | Stock Options [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount				2.0
Anti-dilutive [Member] | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount		5.3
Anti-dilutive [Member] | Convertible Debt Securities [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0
Anti-dilutive; Lack of generated income [Member] | Stock Options [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount		1.0		1.1
Anti-dilutive; Lack of generated income [Member] | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount		3.1		3.0