Contracts with Customers Contracts with Customers (Schedule of Unbilled Receivables and Claims) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Contracts with Customers [Abstract]
Unbilled receivables, current	$ 7,178	$ 5,149
Unbilled receivables, expected to be collected after one year	2,847	3,045
Total Unbilled Receivables	10,025	8,194
Claims, current	1	4
Claims, expected to be collected after one year	2	55
Total Claims	$ 3	$ 59

Contracts with Customers [Abstract]

No definition available.

Name:	ba_ContractswithCustomersAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ba_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of billed or unbilled claims or other similar items subject to uncertainty concerning their determination or ultimate realization under long-term contracts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3(c)(3))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractsReceivableClaimsAndUncertainAmounts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of billed or unbilled claims or similar items subject to uncertainty concerning their determination or ultimate realization under long-term contracts that are expected to be collected after the next fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3(c)(3),(4))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractsReceivableClaimsAndUncertainAmountsExpectedToBeCollectedAfterOneYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of billed or unbilled claims or similar items subject to uncertainty concerning their determination or ultimate realization under long-term contracts that are expected to be collected in the next fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractsReceivableClaimsAndUncertainAmountsExpectedToBeCollectedWithinOneYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Unbilled amounts due for services rendered or to be rendered, actions taken or to be taken, or a promise to refrain from taking certain actions in accordance with the terms of a legally binding agreement between the entity and, at a minimum, one other party. An example would be amounts associated with contracts or programs where the recognized revenue for performance thereunder exceeds the amounts billed under the terms thereof as of the date of the balance sheet.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 912
-SubTopic 310
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68054760&loc=d3e55302-109406

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3(c)(3))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnbilledContractsReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of receivables under long-term contracts that have not been billed and were not billable that are expected to be collected after the next fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnbilledReceivablesNotBillableAtBalanceSheetDateAmountExpectedToBeCollectedAfterOneYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of receivables under long-term contracts that have not been billed and were not billable that are expected to be collected in the next fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnbilledReceivablesNotBillableAtBalanceSheetDateAmountExpectedToBeCollectedWithinOneYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant