Special Charges - Restructuring plans and special charges (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jul. 01, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jul. 01, 2017
Special Charges
Special charges	$ 0	$ 13	$ 0	$ 50
Severance Costs
Special Charges
Special charges		5		25
Contract Terminations and Other
Special Charges
Special charges		(4)
Industrial
Special Charges
Special charges		4		29
Industrial | Severance Costs
Special Charges
Special charges				19
Industrial | Contract Terminations and Other
Special Charges
Special charges		3		6
Textron Aviation
Special Charges
Special charges		11		22
Textron Aviation | Severance Costs
Special Charges
Special charges		4		5
Textron Systems
Special Charges
Special charges		(2)		(1)
Textron Systems | Severance Costs
Special Charges
Special charges		1		1
Textron Systems | Contract Terminations and Other
Special Charges
Special charges		(7)		(6)
Asset Impairments
Special Charges
Special charges		11		21
Asset Impairments | Textron Aviation
Special Charges
Special charges		7		17
Asset Impairments | Textron Systems
Special Charges
Special charges		4		4
Acquisition Transaction Costs
Special Charges
Special charges		1		4
Acquisition Transaction Costs | Industrial
Special Charges
Special charges		$ 1		$ 4