2.2.0.25truefalse0111 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Income (Parenthetical)truefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0us-gaap_ComponentOfOperatingOtherCostAndExpenseLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli: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_DividendsPreferredStockus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse7400000074000000falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate cash, stock, and paid-in-kind dividends declared for preferred shareholders during the period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Article 3
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Statement of Position (SOP)
-Number 01-6
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph l
falsefalse4false0us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfPreferredStockAndPreferenceStockus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse-3389000000-3389000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe cash outflow to reacquire preferred stock during the period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 18
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 20
-Subparagraph a
falsefalse5false0axp_PreferredShareDividendsAndRelatedAccretionaxpfalsecreditdurationThe aggregate amount of preferred share dividends and related accretion on the preferred shares discount.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse-94000000-94000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe aggregate amount of preferred share dividends and related accretion on the preferred shares discount.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse6false0axp_EarningsAllocatedToParticipatingShareAwardsAndOtherItemsaxpfalsecreditdurationEarnings allocated to participating share awards and other items, primarily in-substance dividends for non-controlling...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse2200000022000000[1],[2]falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryEarnings allocated to participating share awards and other items, primarily in-substance dividends for non-controlling interests in certain consolidated subsidiaries.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse7false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://americanexpress.com/role/statementsofincomeparenthetical1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_ComponentOfOtherOperatingCostAndExpenseGeneralAxis} : Accretion Expense [Member]
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Accretion_Expense_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseus-gaap_AccretionExpenseMemberus-gaap_ComponentOfOtherOperatingCostAndExpenseGeneralAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_AccretionExpenseMemberus-gaap_ComponentOfOtherOperatingCostAndExpenseGeneralAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse8true0us-gaap_ComponentOfOperatingOtherCostAndExpenseLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli: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.falsefalse9false0us-gaap_DividendsPreferredStockus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse212000000212000000falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate cash, stock, and paid-in-kind dividends declared for preferred shareholders during the period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Article 3
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Statement of Position (SOP)
-Number 01-6
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph l
falsefalse1The Company's unvested restricted stock awards, which include the right to receive non-forfeitable dividends or dividend equivalents, are considered participating securities. Calculations of EPS under the two-class method (i) exclude any dividends paid or owed on participating securities and any undistributed earnings considered to be attributable to participating securities from the numerator and (ii) exclude the participating securities from the denominator.2Amounts were not available for disclosure.18Consolidated Statements of Income (Parenthetical) (USD $)NoRoundingUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue
