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Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  |
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Dec. 31, 2011 U S Card Services [Member] Cardmember Loans [Member] | Dec. 31, 2010 U S Card Services [Member] Cardmember Loans [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 U S Card Services [Member] Cardmember Receivables [Member] | Dec. 31, 2010 U S Card Services [Member] Cardmember Receivables [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 International Card Services [Member] Cardmember Loans [Member] | Dec. 31, 2010 International Card Services [Member] Cardmember Loans [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 International Card Services [Member] Cardmember Receivables [Member] | Dec. 31, 2010 International Card Services [Member] Cardmember Receivables [Member] | Mar. 31, 2010 International Card Services [Member] Cardmember Receivables [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Global Commercial Services [Member] Cardmember Receivables [Member] | Dec. 31, 2010 Global Commercial Services [Member] Cardmember Receivables [Member] | Mar. 31, 2010 Global Commercial Services [Member] Cardmember Receivables [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Write-Off Rate Principal | 2.90% | 5.80% | 1.70% | 1.60% | 2.70% | 4.60% |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Write Off Rate Principal Interest Fees | 3.20% | 6.30% | 1.90% | 1.80% | 3.30% | 5.50% |  |  |  |  |  |
30 Days Past Due as a % of Total | 1.40% | 2.10% | 1.90% | 1.50% | 1.70% | 2.30% |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Loss Ratio as a % of Charge Volume |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0.15% | 0.24% |  | 0.06% | 0.11% |
90 days past billing as a percentage of receivables |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0.90% | 1.00% |  | 0.80% | 0.80% |
Credit Quality Indicator For Loans And Receivables (Textuals) [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cardmember receivables net write offs due to methodology change |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 60 |  |  | $ 48

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- Definition Represents write-offs of cardmember receivables during period, net of recoveries, as a result of a change in write-off methodology. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_CardmemberReceivablesNetWriteOffsDueToMethodologyChange
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Details
Name: | axp_CreditQualityIndicatorForLoansAndReceivablesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
Name: | axp_CreditQualityIndicatorForLoansAndReceivablesTextualsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Represents the ratio of charge card write-offs consisting of principal (resulting from authorized and unauthorized transactions) and fee components, less recoveries, on cardmember receivables expressed as a percentage of gross amounts billed to cardmembers. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_NetLossRatioAsPercentageOfChargeVolume
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the amount of cardmember loans or cardmember receivables written off consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions), less recoveries, as a percentage of the average loan balance or average receivables during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_NetWriteOffRatePrincipal
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the amount of cardmember loans or cardmember receivables written off consisting of principal, interest, and fees (resulting from authorized transactions), less recoveries, as a percentage of the average loan balance or average receivables during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_NetWriteOffRatePrincipalInterestFees
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Represents metric calculated as cardmember receivables that are 90 days past billing expressed as a percentage of total cardmember receivables. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_NinetyDaysPastBillingAsPercentageOfReceivables
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Represents metric calculated as accounts receivable or loans that are 30 days past due expressed as a percentage of total accounts receivables or loans. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_ThirtyDaysPastDueAsPercentageOfTotal
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant