Note 1: Acquisitions, Dispositions, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended														9 Months Ended									9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Fair Value Adjustment to Inventory [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Fair Value Adjustment to Inventory [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Fair Value Adjustment to Inventory [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Fair Value Adjustment to Inventory [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Amortization of Acquired Intanglible Assets [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Amortization of Acquired Intanglible Assets [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Amortization of Acquired Intanglible Assets [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Amortization of Acquired Intanglible Assets [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Utilization of Contractual Customer Obligation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Utilization of Contractual Customer Obligation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Utilization of Contractual Customer Obligation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Utilization of Contractual Customer Obligation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Acquisition-related Costs [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Acquisition-related Costs [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Acquisition-related Costs [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Acquisition-related Costs [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Interest Expense Incurred [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Interest Expense Incurred [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Interest Expense Incurred [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Interest Expense Incurred [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 IAE Collaboration [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 IAE Collaboration [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 IAE Collaboration [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 International Aero Engines AG [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Service portfolios [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Service portfolios [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Patents and trademarks [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Patents and trademarks [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Collaboration [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Collaboration [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Other, principally customer relationships [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Other, principally customer relationships [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Otis [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 UTC Climate Controls and Security [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Pratt and Whitney [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 UTC Aerospace Systems [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Sikorsky [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Total Segments [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Eliminations and other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Goodrich Corporation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Goodrich Corporation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 International Aero Engines AG [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Pratt And Whitney Rocketdyne [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 MTU Aero Engines AG [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Legacy Hamilton Sundstrand Industrial Business [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Auxiliary Power Unit [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Purchase Price																																													$ 18,300,000,000		$ 1,500,000,000
Noncash or Part Noncash Acquisition, Net Debt Assumed																																													1,900,000,000
Business Acquisition Revenue Reported By Acquired Entity For Last Annual Period																																													8,100,000,000
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Remeasurement Gain (Loss), Net																																															21,000,000
Length Of Time For Agreement																																															15
Proceeds From Portion Of Acquired Interests Sold																																																	233,000,000
Business Acquisition Effective Date Of Acquisition																																													Jul. 26, 2012		Jun. 29, 2012
Business Acquisition Share Price																																													$ 127.50
Business Combination Reason For Business Combination																																													The acquisition of Goodrich and the formation of UTC Aerospace Systems provide increased scale, financial strength and complementary product offerings, allowing us to significantly strengthen our position in the aerospace and defense industry, create aftermarket efficiencies for our customers, accelerate our ability to drive innovation within the aerospace industry, and enhance our ability to support our customers with more integrated systems.
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Environmental Liabilities Assumed																																													232,000,000
Business Acquisition Preexisting Relationship Gain Loss Recognized																																													46,000,000
Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Transaction Costs																																													84,000,000
Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Planned Restructuring Activities																																													29,000,000
Business Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entity Interest Costs																																													130,000,000
Agreed Upon Selling Price Of Disposal Business																																																550,000,000		3,460,000,000
Proceeds From Issuance Of Commercial Paper			3,200,000,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents Used in Business Acquisition	500,000,000		500,000,000
Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Management Continuity Arrangement Liabilities Assumed																																													73,000,000
Business Acquisition, Cost of Management Continuity Arrangements Amendment																																													12,000,000
Business Acquisition, Unremitted Foreign Earnings Income Tax Liability																																														853,000,000
Business Acquisition, Deferred Income Tax Liability Recorded																																													218,000,000
Transfer of Goodwill within Existing Segments																																																			360,000,000
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill - Beginning Balance			17,943,000,000																																			1,516,000,000	9,758,000,000	1,223,000,000	4,475,000,000	348,000,000	17,320,000,000	623,000,000
Goodwill resulting from business combinations			11,550,000,000																																			23,000,000	88,000,000	272,000,000	11,167,000,000	0	11,550,000,000	0
Goodwill translation and other			(1,863,000,000)																																			9,000,000	(25,000,000)	(174,000,000)	(1,053,000,000)	3,000,000	(1,240,000,000)	(623,000,000)
Goodwill - Ending Balance	27,630,000,000		27,630,000,000																																			1,548,000,000	9,821,000,000	1,321,000,000	14,589,000,000	351,000,000	27,630,000,000	0
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Amount	15,730,000,000		15,730,000,000		5,828,000,000																									2,120,000,000	2,036,000,000	398,000,000	463,000,000	1,376,000,000	0	11,836,000,000	3,329,000,000
Accumulated Amortization	(2,903,000,000)		(2,903,000,000)		(2,672,000,000)																									(1,165,000,000)	(1,060,000,000)	(164,000,000)	(183,000,000)	0	0	(1,574,000,000)	(1,429,000,000)
Acquisition Cost Of Acquired Entities and Interest in Affiliates			18,600,000,000
Noncash or Part Noncash Acquisition and Interest in Affiliates Debt Assumed			2,600,000,000
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	2,319,000,000		2,319,000,000		762,000,000
Intangible Assets Gross Excluding Goodwill	18,049,000,000		18,049,000,000		6,590,000,000
Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization Excluding Goodwill	(2,903,000,000)		(2,903,000,000)		(2,672,000,000)
Amortization of Intangible Assets	166,000,000	102,000,000	360,000,000	304,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Remainder of Fiscal Year	178,000,000		178,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Next Twelve Months	703,000,000		703,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Two	678,000,000		678,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Three	647,000,000		647,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Four	628,000,000		628,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Five	662,000,000		662,000,000
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Current Assets	1,521,000,000		1,521,000,000
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Noncurrent Assets	931,000,000		931,000,000
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Assets	2,452,000,000		2,452,000,000
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Current Liabilities	1,556,000,000		1,556,000,000
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Noncurrent Liabilities	1,013,000,000		1,013,000,000
Variable Interest Entity, Consolidated, Carrying Amount, Liabilities	2,569,000,000		2,569,000,000
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment Ownership Percentage																										61.00%	61.00%	33.00%	49.50%
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Subsequent Event, Amount			400,000,000
Subsequent Event, Date			Oct. 16, 2012
Fair Value Balance Sheet for Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Current Assets Cash And Cash Equivalents	538,000,000		538,000,000
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Current Assets Receivables	1,182,000,000		1,182,000,000
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Current Assets Inventory	1,729,000,000		1,729,000,000
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Deferred Income Taxes Asset Liability Net Current	280,000,000		280,000,000
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Current Assets Prepaid Expense And Other Assets	574,000,000		574,000,000
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Property Plant And Equipment	2,342,000,000		2,342,000,000
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Intangible Assets Customer Relationships	8,550,000,000		8,550,000,000
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Intangible Assets Trademarks	1,550,000,000		1,550,000,000
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Other Noncurrent Assets	1,831,000,000		1,831,000,000
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Short Term Borrowings	(83,000,000)		(83,000,000)
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Current Liabilities Accounts Payable	(443,000,000)		(443,000,000)
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Current Liabilities Accrued Liabilities	(2,242,000,000)		(2,242,000,000)
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Notes Payable And Long Term Debt	(2,961,000,000)		(2,961,000,000)
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Projected Benefit Obligation Asset	(1,745,000,000)		(1,745,000,000)
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Customer Contractual Obligations	(2,050,000,000)		(2,050,000,000)
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Other Noncurrent Liabilities	(3,758,000,000)		(3,758,000,000)
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Noncontrolling Interest	(41,000,000)		(41,000,000)
Business Combination Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed Net	5,253,000,000		5,253,000,000
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation Goodwill Amount	11,167,000,000		11,167,000,000
Business Combination Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired Goodwill And Liabilities Assumed Net	16,420,000,000		16,420,000,000
Pro Forma Consolidated Information [Line Items]
Business Acquisitions Pro Forma Net Sales	15,512,000,000	16,103,000,000	45,730,000,000	46,854,000,000
Business Acquisitions Pro Forma Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Changes In Accounting And Extraordinary Items Net Of Tax	1,266,000,000	1,403,000,000	4,096,000,000	3,483,000,000
Business Acquisition Pro Forma IncomeLoss From Continuing Operations Before Changes In Accounting And Extraordinary Items Net Of Tax Per Share Basic	$ 1.41	$ 1.58	$ 4.58	$ 3.90
Business Acquisition Pro Forma Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Changes In Accounting And Extraordinary Items Net Of Tax Per Share Diluted	$ 1.40	$ 1.56	$ 4.52	$ 3.83
Expected Amortization [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Remainder of Fiscal Year	178,000,000		178,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Next Twelve Months	703,000,000		703,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Two	678,000,000		678,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Three	647,000,000		647,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Four	628,000,000		628,000,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Five	662,000,000		662,000,000
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Total Face Amount Issued	9,800,000,000		9,800,000,000
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Nonrecurring Adjustment [Line Items]
Net income	$ 1,511,000,000	$ 1,421,000,000	$ 3,340,000,000	$ 3,952,000,000		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 103,000,000	$ 15,000,000	$ 46,000,000	$ 107,000,000	$ 138,000,000	$ (10,000,000)	$ (46,000,000)	$ (103,000,000)	$ (154,000,000)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 196,000,000	$ (3,000,000)	$ 44,000,000	$ 63,000,000	$ 133,000,000
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Description								1 Added the expense for inventory fair value adjustments which would have been amortized as the corresponding inventory would have been completely sold during the first two quarters of 2011.				2 Added the additional amortization of the acquired Goodrich intangible assets recognized at fair value in purchase accounting and eliminated the historical Goodrich intangible asset amortization expense.				3 Added the additional utilization of the Goodrich contractual customer obligation recognized in purchase accounting.				4 Added the UTC/Goodrich fees that were incurred in connection with the acquisition of Goodrich during the first quarter of 2011.				5 Added the additional interest expense for the debt incurred to finance our acquisition of Goodrich and reduced interest expense for the debt fair value adjustment which would have been amortized.