Derivative Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 04, 2015	Jan. 03, 2015
Manufacturing group \| Carrying Value
Financial instruments not reflected at fair value
Long-term debt, excluding leases	$ (2,731)	$ (2,742)
Manufacturing group \| Estimated Fair Value
Financial instruments not reflected at fair value
Long-term debt, excluding leases	(2,959)	(2,944)
Finance group
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions
Portion of fair value of term debt determined based on observable market transactions (as a percent)	74.00%	75.00%
Financial instruments not reflected at fair value
Debt	(1,021)	(1,063)
Finance group \| Carrying Value
Financial instruments not reflected at fair value
Finance receivables, excluding leases	963	1,004
Debt	(1,021)	(1,063)
Finance group \| Estimated Fair Value
Financial instruments not reflected at fair value
Finance receivables, excluding leases	988	1,021
Debt	$ (1,013)	$ (1,051)

Finance receivables held for investment, excluding leases.

No definition available.

Name:	txt_FinanceReceivablesHeldForInvestmentExcludingLeases
Namespace Prefix:	txt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	txt_FinancialInstrumentsNotReflectedAtFairValueAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	txt_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Long-term debt, excluding leases.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	txt_LongTermDebtExcludingLeases
Namespace Prefix:	txt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Portion of fair value of term debt determined based on observable market transactions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	txt_PortionOfFairValueOfTermDebtDeterminedBasedOnObservableMarketTransactions
Namespace Prefix:	txt_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all debt, including all short-term borrowings, long-term debt, and capital lease obligations.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.13,16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of debt instrument payable, including, but not limited to, notes payable and loans payable.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13433-108611

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13476-108611

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueBalanceSheetGroupingFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=txt_SegmentFinanceGroupMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=txt_SegmentManufacturingGroupMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: