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12/31/2010
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010_Other_Postretirement_Benefit_Plans_Defined_Benefit_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseOther postretirement benefit plan cost [Member]us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMemberus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2true0axp_DefinedBenefitPlansAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAbstractaxpfalsenadurationDefined Benefit Plans And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringDefined Benefit Plans And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans.falsefalse3false0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsInYearOneus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse2300000023falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of the benefits expected to be paid in Year 1.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph f
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph f
falsefalse5false0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsInYearThreeus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse2400000024falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of the benefits expected to be paid in Year 3.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph f
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph f
falsefalse7false0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsInYearFiveus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse2500000025falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of the benefits expected to be paid in Year 5.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph f
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph f
falsefalse17Retirement Plans (Details 18) (Other postretirement benefit plan cost [Member], USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue
