Revenues (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Revenues
Total revenues	$ 3,109	$ 3,296
United States
Revenues
Total revenues	2,021	1,964
Europe
Revenues
Total revenues	538	569
Asia and Australia
Revenues
Total revenues	199	330
Other international
Revenues
Total revenues	351	433
Commercial
Revenues
Total revenues	2,318	2,492
U.S. Government
Revenues
Total revenues	791	804
Textron Aviation
Revenues
Total revenues	1,134	1,010
Textron Aviation | United States
Revenues
Total revenues	789	665
Textron Aviation | Europe
Revenues
Total revenues	183	146
Textron Aviation | Asia and Australia
Revenues
Total revenues	23	81
Textron Aviation | Other international
Revenues
Total revenues	139	118
Textron Aviation | Commercial
Revenues
Total revenues	1,092	973
Textron Aviation | U.S. Government
Revenues
Total revenues	42	37
Textron Aviation | Aircraft
Revenues
Total revenues	766	634
Textron Aviation | Aftermarket parts and services
Revenues
Total revenues	368	376
Bell
Revenues
Total revenues	739	752
Bell | United States
Revenues
Total revenues	578	509
Bell | Europe
Revenues
Total revenues	20	27
Bell | Asia and Australia
Revenues
Total revenues	82	127
Bell | Other international
Revenues
Total revenues	59	89
Bell | Commercial
Revenues
Total revenues	230	252
Bell | U.S. Government
Revenues
Total revenues	509	500
Bell | Military aircraft and support programs
Revenues
Total revenues	508	487
Bell | Commercial helicopters, parts and services
Revenues
Total revenues	231	265
Textron Systems
Revenues
Total revenues	307	387
Textron Systems | United States
Revenues
Total revenues	257	287
Textron Systems | Europe
Revenues
Total revenues	23	12
Textron Systems | Asia and Australia
Revenues
Total revenues	16	28
Textron Systems | Other international
Revenues
Total revenues	11	60
Textron Systems | Commercial
Revenues
Total revenues	74	127
Textron Systems | U.S. Government
Revenues
Total revenues	233	260
Textron Systems | Unmanned systems
Revenues
Total revenues	134	170
Textron Systems | Marine and land systems
Revenues
Total revenues	48	92
Textron Systems | Simulation, training and other
Revenues
Total revenues	125	125
Industrial
Revenues
Total revenues	912	1,131
Industrial | United States
Revenues
Total revenues	389	496
Industrial | Europe
Revenues
Total revenues	311	383
Industrial | Asia and Australia
Revenues
Total revenues	77	92
Industrial | Other international
Revenues
Total revenues	135	160
Industrial | Commercial
Revenues
Total revenues	905	1,124
Industrial | U.S. Government
Revenues
Total revenues	7	7
Industrial | Fuel systems and functional components
Revenues
Total revenues	594	655
Industrial | Specialized vehicles
Revenues
Total revenues	318	348
Industrial | Tools and test equipment
Revenues
Total revenues		128
Finance
Revenues
Finance Revenue	17	16
Finance | United States
Revenues
Finance Revenue	8	7
Finance | Europe
Revenues
Finance Revenue	1	1
Finance | Asia and Australia
Revenues
Finance Revenue	1	2
Finance | Other international
Revenues
Finance Revenue	7	6
Finance | Commercial
Revenues
Finance Revenue	$ 17	$ 16