Name:	axp_AllowanceForLoansRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of recovery of Card Member receivables related to troubled debt restructurings, which had previously been fully or partially written-off as bad debts.

No definition available.

Name:	axp_AllowanceForReceivablesRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Represents adjustments to Card Member loans resulting from unauthorized transactions and foreign currency translation adjustments for the period.

No definition available.

Name:	axp_CardMemberLoansReservesForLossesOther
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Represents adjustments to Card Member receivables resulting from unauthorized transactions and foreign currency translation adjustments for the period.

No definition available.

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

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

Amount of recovery of loans and lease receivables which had previously been fully or partially written-off as bad debts.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 11B

-Subparagraph (c)(4)

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

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

Total of recoveries of amounts due the Entity that had previously been written off as uncollectible using allowances (the valuation accounts that are netted against the cost of an asset to value it at its carrying value) and total of reestablishments of reserves (liabilities established to represent expected future costs) that had previously been utilized.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24092-122690

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 09

-Article 12

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

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis=axp_CardMemberBankruptcyReservesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis=axp_ForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis=axp_OtherItemsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: