Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Duration of operating cycle	generally longer than one year and could exceed three years
Increase in operating earnings due to net favorable cumulative catch-up adjustments	$ 379	$ 229	$ 125
Increase In Earnings Per Share Due To Change In Accounting Estimate	$ 0.33	$ 0.23	$ 0.12
Reinsurance revenues	129	144	139
Reinsurance costs	128	142	123
Research and development expense	3,298	3,918	4,121
Negative cash balances reclassified to accounts payable	159	132
Finite-lived acquired intangible assets, useful lives (in years)			13 years
Repurchase commitments, maturities	generally 10 to 15 years
Capitalized Internal Use Software [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives (in years)	5 years
Minimum [Member] | Developed Technology [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-lived acquired intangible assets, useful lives (in years)	5 years
Minimum [Member] | Product Know-How [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-lived acquired intangible assets, useful lives (in years)	3 years
Minimum [Member] | Customer Base [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-lived acquired intangible assets, useful lives (in years)	3 years
Minimum [Member] | Distribution Rights [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-lived acquired intangible assets, useful lives (in years)	3 years
Minimum [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-lived acquired intangible assets, useful lives (in years)	5 years
Minimum [Member] | Buildings And Land Improvements [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives (in years)	10 years
Minimum [Member] | Machinery And Equipment [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives (in years)	3 years
Maximum [Member] | Developed Technology [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-lived acquired intangible assets, useful lives (in years)	14 years
Maximum [Member] | Product Know-How [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-lived acquired intangible assets, useful lives (in years)	30 years
Maximum [Member] | Customer Base [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-lived acquired intangible assets, useful lives (in years)	19 years
Maximum [Member] | Distribution Rights [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-lived acquired intangible assets, useful lives (in years)	30 years
Maximum [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Finite-lived acquired intangible assets, useful lives (in years)	32 years
Maximum [Member] | Buildings And Land Improvements [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives (in years)	40 years
Maximum [Member] | Machinery And Equipment [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives (in years)	20 years
Bid And Proposal Costs [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Research and development expense	$ 326	$ 332	$ 355
Commercial Airplanes [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Standard warranty term	3 years
Commercial Airplanes [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Standard warranty term	4 years
Defense, Space And Security [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Standard warranty term	6 months
Defense, Space And Security [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Standard warranty term	12 months