Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
U S Card Services [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Current	$ 57,772	$ 55,281
30 to 59 days past due	183	200
60 to 89 days past due	134	147
90+ days past due	306	325
Total aging	58,395	55,953
U S Card Services [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Current	21,488	20,748
30 to 59 days past due	125	116
60 to 89 days past due	69	76
90+ days past due	160	184
Total aging	21,842	21,124
International Card Services [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Current	8,664	9,099
30 to 59 days past due	43	47
60 to 89 days past due	28	30
90+ days past due	55	60
Total aging	8,790	9,236
International Card Services [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
90+ days past due	83	74
Total aging	7,771	7,778
Global Commercial Services [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
90+ days past due	132	112
Total aging	$ 14,391	$ 13,671

Recorded investment in financing receivables that are current and past due at the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Financing receivables that are current.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Financing receivables that are less than 60 days past due but more than 29 days past due.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7A

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28368275&loc=SL6953401-111524

+ Details

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

- Definition

Financing receivables that are less than 90 days past due but more than 59 days past due.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Financing receivables that are equal to or greater than 90 days past due.

+ References

+ Details

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