Equity Equity - Net Income (Loss) Attributable to The AES Corporation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Net income (loss) attributable to The AES Corporation	$ (1,342)	$ 152	$ 53	$ (24)	$ (949)	$ 175	$ (482)	$ 126		$ (1,161)	$ (1,130)		$ 306
Transfers from the noncontrolling interest:
Increase (decrease) in The AES Corporation's paid-in-capital for purchase of subsidiary shares										240	(2)
Net transfers (to) from noncontrolling interest										253	(2)		(54)
Change from net income (loss) attributable to The AES Corporation and transfers (to) from noncontrolling interests										(908)	(1,132)		252
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Transfers from the noncontrolling interest:
Net increase in The AES Corporation's paid-in capital for sale of subsidiary shares										13	84		323
Increase (decrease) in The AES Corporation's paid-in-capital for purchase of subsidiary shares										240	(2)		0
Retained Earnings [Member]
Transfers from the noncontrolling interest:
Net increase in The AES Corporation's paid-in capital for sale of subsidiary shares										0	(84)		(377)
Increase (decrease) in The AES Corporation's paid-in-capital for purchase of subsidiary shares										$ 0	0
IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. [Member] | Retained Earnings [Member]
Transfers from the noncontrolling interest:
Net increase in The AES Corporation's paid-in capital for sale of subsidiary shares								$ (84)	$ (377)		$ (84)	[1]	$ (377)	[1]

[1] See Note 17—Redeemable stock of subsidiaries for further information on increase in paid-in-capital transferred to redeemable stock of subsidiaries.