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USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Jan-01-2010_Dec-31-2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
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USD ($) / shares
USD ($)
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USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2007http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2007-01-01T00:00:002007-12-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2true0us-gaap_ComponentOfOperatingOtherCostAndExpenseLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.falsefalse3false0us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpenseus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse250000000250000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse362000000362000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse337000000337000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRental expense incurred for leased assets including furniture and equipment which has not been recognized in costs and expenses applicable to sales and revenues; for example, cost of goods sold or other operating costs and expenses.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 13
-Paragraph 15
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 13
-Paragraph 16
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falsefalse4true0axp_CommitmentsAndContingenciesTextualsAbstractaxpfalsenadurationCommitments and contingencies.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringCommitments and contingencies.falsefalse5false0us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMinimumus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe estimated minimum amount of possible loss from the contingency.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 14
-Paragraph 3
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 5
-Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12
falsefalse6false0us-gaap_LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMaximumus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse500000000500000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe estimated maximum amount of possible loss from the contingency.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 14
-Paragraph 3
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 5
-Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12
falsefalse7false0us-gaap_LitigationSettlementGrossus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse40500000004050000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the gross amount awarded, to be received by, or to be remitted to the entity in settlement of litigation occurring during the period.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse8false0axp_VisaLitigationSettlementGrossaxpfalsecreditdurationRepresents the amount awarded to the Company in settlement of litigation relating to Visa.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse11300000001130000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the amount awarded to the Company in settlement of litigation relating to Visa.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse9false0axp_VisaLitigationSettlementAfterTaxaxpfalsecreditdurationRepresents the after-tax amount awarded to the Company in settlement of litigation relating to Visa.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse700000000700000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the after-tax amount awarded to the Company in settlement of litigation relating to Visa.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse10false0axp_PretaxQuarterlyPaymentsVisaaxpfalsecreditdurationThis element represents the pretax quarterly settlement payments the Company receives from Visa having met quarterly...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse280000000280000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse280000000280000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse280000000280000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the pretax quarterly settlement payments the Company receives from Visa having met quarterly performance criteria.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse11false0axp_AfterTaxQuarterlyPaymentsVisaaxpfalsecreditdurationThis element represents the after-tax quarterly settlement payments the Company receives from Visa having met 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quarterly...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse600000000600000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse600000000600000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse300000000300000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the pre-tax quarterly settlement payments the Company receives from MasterCard having met quarterly performance criteria.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse13false0axp_AfterTaxQuarterlyPaymentsMasterCardaxpfalsecreditdurationThis element represents the after-tax quarterly settlement payments the Company receives from MasterCard having met quarterly...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse372000000372000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse372000000372000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse186000000186000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the after-tax quarterly settlement payments the Company receives from MasterCard having met quarterly performance criteria.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse14false0axp_ContingentObligationsCoBrandPartnersaxpfalsecreditdurationThis element represents the amount of contingent obligations to make payments under contractual agreements entered into as...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse75000000007500000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of contingent obligations to make payments under contractual agreements entered into as part of the ongoing operation of the Company's business, primarily with co-brand partners.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse15false0us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseSubleaseRentalsus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse2500000025000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe total amount of rentals incurred in the period on property subject to subleasing arrangements.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 13
-Paragraph 122
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 13
-Paragraph 16
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 13
-Paragraph 16
-Subparagraph a(ii)
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 13
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 13
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 13
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-Subparagraph a(ii)
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 13
-Paragraph 16
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falsefalse22false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://americanexpress.com/role/disclosurecommitmentsandcontingenciesdetails11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_ComponentOfOtherOperatingCostAndExpenseGeneralAxis} : Lease Termination Penalties [Member]
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Lease_Termination_Penalties_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseLease Termination Penalties [Member]us-gaap_ComponentOfOtherOperatingCostAndExpenseGeneralAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_LeaseTerminationPenaltiesMemberus-gaap_ComponentOfOtherOperatingCostAndExpenseGeneralAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse23true0us-gaap_ComponentOfOperatingOtherCostAndExpenseLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.falsefalse24false0us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpenseus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse3600000036000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRental expense incurred for leased assets including furniture and equipment which has not been recognized in costs and expenses applicable to sales and revenues; for example, cost of goods sold or other operating costs and expenses.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
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-Paragraph 15
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 13
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falsefalse423Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textuals) (USD $)NoRoundingUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue
