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USD ($)
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
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-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
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USD ($)
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
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-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
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-Section P
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_Employee_Severance_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseSeverance [Member]us-gaap_RestructuringReserveByTypeOfRestructuringAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMemberus-gaap_RestructuringReserveByTypeOfRestructuringAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$20falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_RestructuringReserveByTypeOfRestructuringAxis} : Severance [Member]
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
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1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
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1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Other_Terminations_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseOther Terminations [Member]us-gaap_RestructuringReserveByTypeOfRestructuringAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_OtherTerminationsMemberus-gaap_RestructuringReserveByTypeOfRestructuringAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$24falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_RestructuringReserveByTypeOfRestructuringAxis} : Other Terminations [Member]
1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2008_Other_Terminations_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseOther Terminations [Member]us-gaap_RestructuringReserveByTypeOfRestructuringAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_OtherTerminationsMemberus-gaap_RestructuringReserveByTypeOfRestructuringAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse62true0axp_RestructuringChargesNetOfAdjustmentsByReportableSegmentAndCumulativeAmountsRelatingToRestructuringProgramsAbstractaxpfalsenadurationRestructuring charges, net of adjustments, by reportable segment and the cumulative amounts relating to the restructuring...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringRestructuring charges, net of adjustments, by reportable segment and the cumulative amounts relating to the restructuring programs.falsefalse63false0us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCostus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse-2000000-2[1],[7]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse2400000024[7]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse6800000068[2],[3],[7]falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryDiscloses the amount charged against the accrued restructuring reserves, or earnings if not previously accrued, during the period for the specified type of restructuring cost.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 146
-Paragraph 20
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 95-3
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section P
-Subsection 3, 4
falsefalse64false0us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDateus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse8200000082falsetruefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of costs incurred to date for the specified type of restructuring cost.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 146
-Paragraph 20
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 95-3
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section P
-Subsection 3, 4
falsefalse1Net adjustments of $27 million were recorded in the Company's reportable operating segments as follows: $4 million in USCS, $13 million in ICS, $(2) million in GCS, and $12 million in Corporate & Other. These adjustments primarily relate to higher employee redeployments to other positions within the Company, business changes and modifications to existing initiatives.2Adjustments primarily relate to higher than anticipated redeployments of displaced employees to other positions within the Company. 3Includes $17 million related to discontinued operations. 4As of December 31, 2010, the total expenses to be incurred for previously approved restructuring activities that were in progress are not expected to be materially different than the cumulative expenses incurred to date for these programs, except for those 2011 charges noted above.5The Corporate & Other segment includes certain severance and other charges of $125 million, related to Company-wide support functions which were not allocated to the Company's operating segments, as these were corporate initiatives, which is consistent with how such charges were reported internally.6Accounted for in accordance with the GAAP governing the accounting for nonretirement postemployment benefits and for costs associated with exit or disposal activities.7Other primarily includes facility exit, asset impairment and contract termination costs.363Restructuring Charges (Details 1) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue
