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Reserves for Losses (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Changes in the Card Member loans reserve for losses
Balance, January 1	$ 1,261us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance	$ 1,471us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance	$ 1,874us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance
Card Member loans provisions	1,138axp_ProvisionsForLossesForLoanAndLeaseLossesAdditionsPrincipalInterestAndFees	1,115axp_ProvisionsForLossesForLoanAndLeaseLossesAdditionsPrincipalInterestAndFees	1,030axp_ProvisionsForLossesForLoanAndLeaseLossesAdditionsPrincipalInterestAndFees
Card Member loans net write-offs - principal	(1,023)axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsPrincipal	(1,141)axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsPrincipal	(1,280)axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsPrincipal
Card Member loans net write-offs - interest and fees	(164)axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsInterestAndFees	(150)axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsInterestAndFees	(157)axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsInterestAndFees
Card Member loans - other	(11)axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther	(34)axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther	4axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther
Balance, December 31	$ 1,201us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance	$ 1,261us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance	$ 1,471us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance

X

- Definition

Reflects the interest and fees amount of loans that have been removed, or charged off, from both loan receivables and the reserve for credit losses, typically because they are considered to be not salvageable or have been purchased by unconsolidated collection entities for the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Represents adjustments to Card Member loans reserve including foreign currency translation adjustments and net write-offs related to unauthorized transactions for the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Reflects the principal amount of loans that have been removed, or charged off, from both loan receivables and the reserve for credit losses, net of recoveries, typically because they are considered to be not salvageable or have been purchased by unconsolidated collection entities for the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsPrincipal
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Represents loss provisions for Card Member loans consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions), interest and fee reserves components for the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_ProvisionsForLossesForLoanAndLeaseLossesAdditionsPrincipalInterestAndFees
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

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

X

- Definition

Amount of allowance to cover probable credit losses on loans and leases. Includes carryover of or adjustments to the allowance for loan losses in connection with business combinations. Excludes allowance for loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(d))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878



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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 7

-Subparagraph d

-Article 9



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 11B

-Subparagraph (g)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=SL6953423-111524



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 11B

-Subparagraph (c)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=SL6953423-111524



Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)(1)(ii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379141&loc=d3e15032-111544



Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 6

-Section L

-Subsection 1

+ Details

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