Derivative Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Details Textual) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011 Textron Systems [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Golf Mortgage [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Golf Mortgage [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Finance Group [Member]	Jan. 01, 2011 Finance Group [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Manufacturing Group [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Manufacturing Group [Member] Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Interest rate exchange contracts [Member] Finance Group [Member]	Jan. 01, 2011 Interest rate exchange contracts [Member] Finance Group [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Foreign currency exchange contracts [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Foreign currency exchange contracts [Member] Manufacturing Group [Member]	Jan. 01, 2011 Foreign currency exchange contracts [Member] Manufacturing Group [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Net Investment Hedge [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Textual) [Abstract]
Notional amounts										$ 800	$ 1,100		$ 645	$ 635
Investments in other marketable securities						21	51
Forward exchange contracts and purchased options maximum maturity period								3 years
Net deferred gain in Accumulated OCI	7	27										8			18
Currency effects (after-tax gain) on the effective portion of cash flow hedges, which are reflected in the cumulative translation adjustment account within OCI															4
Valuation allowance on transfer of Golf Mortgage portfolio to held for sale	186			186	186
Weighted average cost of capital			10.00%
Portion of fair value of term debt determined based on observable market transactions						53.00%	33.00%
Pre-tax impairment charge to write down intangible assets primarily related to customer agreements and contractual relationships									$ 41