Segment Information (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating assets located outside the United States	4.00%	5.00%
Research and development expense	$ 3,918	$ 4,121	$ 6,506
Earnings from operations associated with our cost and equity method investments	278	267	249
Boeing Defense, Space & Security [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Research and development expense	1,138	1,136	1,101
Boeing Defense, Space & Security [Member] \| Europe [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment revenues	16.00%	20.00%	12.00%
Boeing Defense, Space & Security [Member] \| Asia, Other Than China [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment revenues	38.00%	25.00%	29.00%
Boeing Defense, Space & Security [Member] \| U.S. Government [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment revenues	37.00%	43.00%	43.00%
Commercial Airplanes [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Research and development expense	2,715	2,975	5,383
Earnings from operations associated with our cost and equity method investments	69	67	74
Commercial Airplanes [Member] \| Europe [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment revenues	83.00%	78.00%	86.00%
Commercial Airplanes [Member] \| Asia, Other Than China [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment revenues	61.00%	75.00%	70.00%
Network & Space Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings from operations associated with our cost and equity method investments	210	201	175
Other Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Research and development expense	65	10	22
Bid And Proposal Costs [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Research and development expense	$ 332	$ 355	$ 343

This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. This item includes income or expense related to stock-based compensation based on the investor's grant of stock to employees of an equity method investee.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382870&loc=d3e33749-111570

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 18

-Paragraph 19

-Subparagraph c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 18

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 28

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 11

-Article 7

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 5

-Section 03

-Paragraph 9

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

- Definition

The aggregate costs incurred (1) in a planned search or critical investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge with the hope that such knowledge will be useful in developing a new product or service, a new process or technique, or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process; or (2) to translate research findings or other knowledge into a plan or design for a new product or process or for a significant improvement to an existing product or process whether intended for sale or the entity's use, during the reporting period charged to research and development projects, including the costs of developing computer software up to the point in time of achieving technological feasibility, and costs allocated in accounting for a business combination to in-process projects deemed to have no alternative future use.

+ References+ Details