Note 1: Acquisitions, Dispositions, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill - Beginning Balance			$ 17,721,000,000
Goodwill resulting from business combinations			320,000,000
Goodwill translation and other			268,000,000
Goodwill - Ending Balance	18,309,000,000		18,309,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Amount	5,958,000,000		5,958,000,000		5,620,000,000
Accumulated Amortization	(2,599,000,000)		(2,599,000,000)		(2,317,000,000)
Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entities and Interest in Affiliates			184,000,000
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	782,000,000		782,000,000		757,000,000
Intangible Assets Gross Excluding Goodwill	6,740,000,000		6,740,000,000		6,377,000,000
Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization Excluding Goodwill	(2,599,000,000)		(2,599,000,000)		(2,317,000,000)
Amortization of Intangible Assets	103,000,000	90,000,000	203,000,000	179,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense			315,000,000
Clipper Windpower [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition Date Of Acquisition Agreement			December 2010
Goodwill Purchase Accounting Adjustments			254,000,000
Carrier [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill - Beginning Balance			3,171,000,000
Goodwill resulting from business combinations			13,000,000
Goodwill translation and other			18,000,000
Goodwill - Ending Balance	3,202,000,000		3,202,000,000
Hamilton Sundstrand [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill - Beginning Balance			4,491,000,000
Goodwill resulting from business combinations			(10,000,000)
Goodwill translation and other			22,000,000
Goodwill - Ending Balance	4,503,000,000		4,503,000,000
Sikorsky [Member]
Income Statement Balance Sheet And Additional Disclosures By Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group Not Discontinued Operation Gain Loss On Disposal			73,000,000
Sikorsky [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill - Beginning Balance			330,000,000
Goodwill resulting from business combinations			0
Goodwill translation and other			4,000,000
Goodwill - Ending Balance	334,000,000		334,000,000
Otis [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill - Beginning Balance			1,470,000,000
Goodwill resulting from business combinations			27,000,000
Goodwill translation and other			76,000,000
Goodwill - Ending Balance	1,573,000,000		1,573,000,000
UTC Fire and Security [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill - Beginning Balance			6,646,000,000
Goodwill resulting from business combinations			36,000,000
Goodwill translation and other			137,000,000
Goodwill - Ending Balance	6,819,000,000		6,819,000,000
Pratt and Whitney [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill - Beginning Balance			1,224,000,000
Goodwill resulting from business combinations			0
Goodwill translation and other			11,000,000
Goodwill - Ending Balance	1,235,000,000		1,235,000,000
Total Segments [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill - Beginning Balance			17,332,000,000
Goodwill resulting from business combinations			66,000,000
Goodwill translation and other			268,000,000
Goodwill - Ending Balance	17,666,000,000		17,666,000,000
Eliminations and other [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill - Beginning Balance			389,000,000
Goodwill resulting from business combinations			254,000,000
Goodwill translation and other			0
Goodwill - Ending Balance	643,000,000		643,000,000
Service portfolios [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Amount	2,095,000,000		2,095,000,000		1,950,000,000
Accumulated Amortization	(1,059,000,000)		(1,059,000,000)		(942,000,000)
Patents and trademarks [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Amount	468,000,000		468,000,000		441,000,000
Accumulated Amortization	(174,000,000)		(174,000,000)		(153,000,000)
Other, principally customer relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Amount	3,395,000,000		3,395,000,000		3,229,000,000
Accumulated Amortization	$ (1,366,000,000)		$ (1,366,000,000)		$ (1,222,000,000)