Equity (Reclassifications Out of AOCL) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended														12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019		Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019		Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018		Sep. 30, 2018		Jun. 30, 2018		Mar. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business							$ 128		$ (21)		$ 89		$ 788		$ 28	$ 984	$ (52)
Cost of Goods and Services Sold															7,840	8,163	8,065
General and administrative expenses															196	192	215
Other Expenses															(80)	(58)	(58)
Interest expense															(1,050)	(1,056)	(1,170)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)															(67)	(72)	42
Income from continuing operations before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates															1,001	2,018	771
Income tax expense															352	708	990
Net equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates	$ (175)														(172)	39	71
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(120)	[1]	$ 298	$ 66	[1]	$ 233	155	[2]	192	[2]	224	[2]	778	[2]	477	1,349	(148)
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation During Phase-out Period, Net of Tax															0	9	18
Net gain from disposal of discontinued operations															1	225	(611)
Net income (loss)	(120)		298	67		233	181		191		416		777		478	1,565	(777)
Less: Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries															(175)	(364)	(359)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest															0	2	(25)
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation	$ (78)		$ 210	$ 17		$ 154	$ 128		$ 101		$ 290		$ 684		303	1,203	(1,161)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation															(86)	(64)	(928)
Available-for-Sale securities, net | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business															(23)	19	(188)
Net gain from disposal of discontinued operations															0	2	(455)
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation															(23)	21	(643)
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business															1	0	0
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax															(1)	(6)	25
Cost of Goods and Services Sold															(12)	(3)	(12)
Interest expense															(26)	(49)	(79)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)															(12)	(59)	15
Income tax expense															13	24	1
Net equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates															(5)	0	0
Derivative gains (losses), net | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Income from continuing operations before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates															(50)	(117)	(51)
Income (loss) from continuing operations															(42)	(93)	(50)
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation															(36)	(78)	(37)
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Less: Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries															6	15	13
Amortization of defined benefit pension actuarial losses, net | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold															0	0	1
Income from continuing operations before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates															(28)	(6)	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations															(28)	(4)	0
Net income (loss)															(28)	(6)	(266)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest															0	0	18
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation															(27)	(7)	(248)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Less: Income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable stock of subsidiaries															1	(1)	0
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business															(26)	0	0
General and administrative expenses															0	0	(1)
Other Expenses															(2)	(6)	0
Income tax expense															0	2	0
Net gain from disposal of discontinued operations															$ 0	$ (2)	$ (266)

[1] Includes pre-tax impairment expense of $116 million and $69 million, in the second and fourth quarters of 2019, respectively (See Note 22—Asset Impairment Expense), other-than-temporary impairment of OPGC of $92 million and net equity in losses of affiliates, primarily at Guacolda, of $175 million, in the fourth quarter of 2019 (See Note 8—Investments in and Advances to Affiliates).

[2] Includes pre-tax gains on sales of business interests of $788 million, $89 million and $128 million, in the first, second and fourth quarters of 2018, respectively, and pre-tax losses of $21 million in the third quarter of 2018 (See Note 25—Held-for-Sale and Dispositions), pre-tax impairment expense of $92 million, $74 million and $42 million, in the second, third and fourth quarters of 2018, respectively (See Note 22—Asset Impairment Expense), other-than-temporary impairment of Guacolda of $144 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 (See Note 8—Investments in and Advances to Affiliates), SAB 118 charges to finalize the provisional estimate of one-time transition tax on foreign earnings of $33 million and $161 million in the third and fourth quarters of 2018, respectively, and a SAB 118 income tax benefit to finalize the provisional estimate of remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities to the lower corporate tax rate of $77 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 (See Note 23—Income Taxes).