Summary Of Business Segment Data (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 20,008	$ 17,727	$ 59,396	$ 49,180
Earnings from operations	1,564	1,714	4,682	4,247
Other income, net	17	49	39	76
Interest and debt expense	(115)	(121)	(346)	(374)
Earnings before income taxes	1,466	1,642	4,375	3,949
Income tax expense	(432)	(548)	(1,450)	(1,325)
Net earnings from continuing operations	1,034	1,094	2,925	2,624
Net (loss)/gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of taxes of $1, ($2), $2 and $0	(2)	4	(3)	1
Net earnings	1,032	1,098	2,922	2,625
Research and development expense, net	853	901	2,545	3,005
Commercial Airplanes [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	12,186	9,515	34,966	25,476
Earnings from operations	1,153	1,085	3,445	2,514
Research and development expense, net	534	633	1,638	2,191
Defense, Space & Security [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	7,839	8,200	24,264	23,505
Earnings from operations	827	824	2,317	2,293
Research and development expense, net	306	250	868	773
Defense, Space & Security [Member] | Boeing Military Aircraft [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	3,789	3,964	12,227	10,998
Earnings from operations	445	397	1,245	1,152
Research and development expense, net	166	119	455	369
Defense, Space & Security [Member] | Network & Space Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,990	2,269	5,672	6,693
Earnings from operations	161	178	360	511
Research and development expense, net	116	110	335	327
Defense, Space & Security [Member] | Global Services & Support [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	2,060	1,967	6,365	5,814
Earnings from operations	221	249	712	630
Research and development expense, net	24	21	78	77
Boeing Capital [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	101	126	325	416
Earnings from operations	33	19	102	133
Other Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	27	33	93	107
Earnings from operations	(74)	92	(203)	11
Unallocated Items And Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(145)	(147)	(252)	(324)
Earnings from operations	(375)	(306)	(979)	(704)
Other Segment and Unallocated [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Research and development expense, net	$ 13	$ 18	$ 39	$ 41