Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 4) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Impaired loans and receivables
Loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest	$ 218	$ 221	$ 132
Non-accrual loans	241	298	431
Loans and receivables modified as a Troubled Debt Restructuring	334	406	750
Total impaired loans and receivables	793	925	1,313
Unpaid principal balance	750	886	1,253
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	102	116	244
Average balance of impaired loans	859	1,096	1,431
Interest income recognized	65	62	63
Accounts Receivable and Loans (Textuals) [Abstract]
Total loans and receivables modified as a TDR, non-accrual	34	43	320
Total loans and receivables modified as a TDR, past due 90 days and still accruing	26	29	6
U S Card Services [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Impaired loans and receivables
Loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest	161	167	73
Non-accrual loans	241	294	426
Loans and receivables modified as a Troubled Debt Restructuring	286	351	627
Total impaired loans and receivables	688	812	1,126
Unpaid principal balance	646	775	1,073
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	67	78	152
Average balance of impaired loans	750	948	1,221
Interest income recognized	49	46	47
U S Card Services [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Impaired loans and receivables
Loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest	0	0	0
Non-accrual loans	0	0	0
Loans and receivables modified as a Troubled Debt Restructuring	48	50	117
Total impaired loans and receivables	48	50	117
Unpaid principal balance	48	49	111
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	35	38	91
Average balance of impaired loans	47	81	135
Interest income recognized	0	0	0
International Card Services [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Impaired loans and receivables
Loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest	57	54	59
Non-accrual loans	0	4	5
Loans and receivables modified as a Troubled Debt Restructuring	0	5	6
Total impaired loans and receivables	57	63	70
Unpaid principal balance	56	62	69
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	0	0	1
Average balance of impaired loans	62	67	75
Interest income recognized	$ 16	$ 16	$ 16

Name:	axp_AccountsReceivableAndLoansTextualsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The unpaid principal balance related to impaired financing receivables.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Recorded investment in financing receivables that have been modified in a Troubled Debt Restructuring and are on nonaccrual status as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Recorded investment in financing receivables that have been modified in a Troubled Debt Restructuring and are 90 days or more past due and still accruing interest.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of the outstanding recorded investment related to financing receivables that have been modified by troubled debt restructurings.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25495931&loc=d3e18845-111554

+ Details

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

- Definition

Recorded investment in financing receivables that are 90 days or more past due and still accruing.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=d3e5111-111524

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment90DaysPastDueAndStillAccruing
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Average amount of investment of impaired financing receivables with related allowance for credit losses and without a related allowance for credit losses.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph (c)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=d3e5212-111524

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 17

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=d3e5258-111524

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairedFinancingReceivableAverageRecordedInvestment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of interest income recognized that the financing receivables (with related allowance for credit losses and without a related allowance for credit losses) were impaired.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairedFinancingReceivableInterestIncomeAccrualMethod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of investment of impaired financing receivables with related allowance for credit losses and without a related allowance for credit losses.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 14A

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=SL6953550-111524

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of allowance for credit losses related to recorded investment.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairedFinancingReceivableRelatedAllowance
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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

- Definition

Reflects the carrying amount of loans deemed to be questionable as to collection on which no interest is continuing to be recognized.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=d3e5111-111524

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=axp_InternationalCardServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=axp_USCardServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: