Segment and Geographic Data (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2012	Sep. 29, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011	Jul. 02, 2011	Apr. 02, 2011	Dec. 29, 2012 item	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011
Operating and reportable business segments
Number of business operating segments									5
Number of reportable business segments									5
Revenues
Manufacturing revenues									$ 12,022	$ 11,172	$ 10,307
Finance revenues									215	103	218
Total revenues	3,362	3,000	3,019	2,856	3,254	2,814	2,728	2,479	12,237	11,275	10,525
Segment Profit (Loss)
Segment profit	281	282	310	259	36	236	196	123	1,132	591	553
Special charges											(190)
Corporate expenses and other, net	(43)	(38)	(20)	(47)	(39)	(13)	(23)	(39)	(148)	(114)	(137)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									841	337	86
Manufacturing group
Segment Profit (Loss)
Interest Expense, net for Manufacturing group	(38)	(35)	(35)	(35)	(27)	(37)	(38)	(38)	(143)	(140)	(140)
Cessna
Revenues
Total revenues	901	778	763	669	1,011	771	652	556
Segment Profit (Loss)
Segment profit	23	30	35	(6)	60	33	5	(38)
Cessna | Manufacturing group
Revenues
Manufacturing revenues									3,111	2,990	2,563
Segment Profit (Loss)
Segment profit									82	60	(29)
Bell
Revenues
Total revenues	1,149	1,075	1,056	994	1,010	894	872	749
Segment Profit (Loss)
Segment profit	177	165	152	145	167	143	120	91
Bell | Manufacturing group
Revenues
Manufacturing revenues									4,274	3,525	3,241
Segment Profit (Loss)
Segment profit									639	521	427
Textron Systems
Revenues
Total revenues	571	400	389	377	513	462	452	445
Segment Profit (Loss)
Segment profit	36	21	40	35	(8)	47	49	53
Textron Systems | Manufacturing group
Revenues
Manufacturing revenues									1,737	1,872	1,979
Segment Profit (Loss)
Segment profit									132	141	230
Industrial
Revenues
Total revenues	706	683	756	755	708	655	719	703
Segment Profit (Loss)
Segment profit	43	38	61	73	49	37	55	61
Industrial | Manufacturing group
Revenues
Manufacturing revenues									2,900	2,785	2,524
Segment Profit (Loss)
Segment profit									215	202	162
Finance
Revenues
Manufacturing revenues									215	103	218
Total revenues	35	64	55	61	12	32	33	26
Segment Profit (Loss)
Segment profit	$ 2	$ 28	$ 22	$ 12	$ (232)	$ (24)	$ (33)	$ (44)	$ 64	$ (333)	$ (237)