Name:	txt_AdditionalPreTaxSpecialChargesExpectedToBeIncurred
Namespace Prefix:	txt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The expected number of positions to be eliminated as a result of restructuring activities, expressed as a percentage of the total workforce.

No definition available.

Name:	txt_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedNumberOfPositionsEliminatedAsPercentageOfTotalWorkforce
Namespace Prefix:	txt_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Includes items that are either isolated or temporary in nature that are excluded from the Company's segment profit measure, including restructuring charges and asset impairments.

No definition available.

Name:	txt_SpecialCharges
Namespace Prefix:	txt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

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

Includes total pre-tax items expected to be incurred that are either isolated or temporary in nature that are excluded from the Company's segment profit measure, including restructuring charges and asset impairments.

No definition available.

Name:	txt_TotalPreTaxSpecialChargesExpectedToBeIncurred
Namespace Prefix:	txt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The expected number of positions to be eliminated as a result of restructuring activities.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostExpectedNumberOfPositionsEliminated
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=txt_ContractTerminationsAndOtherMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=txt_TextronSystemsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=txt_TextronAviationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=txt_IndustrialMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis=txt_RestructuringPlan2016Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=txt_BellAndCorporateSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis=txt_ArcticCatAcquisitionAndRestructuringCostsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	txt_SpecialChargeTypeAxis=txt_AssetImpairmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: