Segment Financial Data (Details) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales	$ 7,146	$ 6,184	$ 13,959	$ 11,991
Service sales	1,940	1,742	3,799	3,471
Net sales	9,086	7,926	17,758	15,462
Segment Profit	1,301	1,079	2,561	2,085
Oher income (expense)	8	0	28	(2)
Interest and other financial charges	(96)	(91)	(195)	(198)
Stock compensaton (expense)	(42)	(36)	(91)	(86)
Pension (expense)	(22)	(46)	(57)	(96)
Other Postretirement income/(expense)	45	(12)	27	6
Repositioning and other charges	(94)	(127)	(227)	(268)
Income before taxes	1,100	767	2,046	1,441
Aerospace [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales	1,559	1,464	3,025	2,781
Service sales	1,251	1,183	2,481	2,372
Net sales	2,810	2,647	5,506	5,153
Segment Profit	451	443	918	856
Repositioning and other charges	6	(6)	6	(6)
Automation and Control Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales	3,331	2,747	6,467	5,394
Service sales	549	490	1,069	967
Net sales	3,880	3,237	7,536	6,361
Segment Profit	496	401	955	787
Repositioning and other charges	(12)	(5)	(45)	(29)
Specialty Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales	1,266	1,190	2,512	2,266
Service sales	140	69	249	132
Net sales	1,406	1,259	2,761	2,398
Segment Profit	281	214	565	384
Repositioning and other charges	0	0	(13)	(11)
Transportation Systems [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales	990	783	1,955	1,550
Net sales	990	783	1,955	1,550
Segment Profit	129	89	247	158
Repositioning and other charges	(40)	(47)	(76)	(105)
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment Profit	(56)	(68)	(124)	(100)
Repositioning and other charges	$ (48)	$ (69)	$ (99)	$ (117)

This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

Name:	hon_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	hon
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Oher income (expense)

+ Details

Name:	hon_OtherIncomeExpenseExcludingEquityOfAffiliatedCompanies
Namespace Prefix:	hon
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Stock compensaton (expense)

+ Details

Name:	hon_SegmentReportingInformationStockCompensationExpense
Namespace Prefix:	hon
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interest and debt related expenses associated with nonoperating financing activities of the entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 34
-Paragraph 21

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestAndDebtExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of costs recognized during the period for non-pension postretirement benefits, such as medical, dental and life insurance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph h

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5, 11

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of pension benefit costs recognized during the period for (1) defined benefit plans and (2) defined contribution plans. For defined benefit plans, pension expense includes the following components: service cost, interest cost, expected return on plan assets, gain or loss on plan assets, prior service cost or credit, transition asset or obligation, and gain or loss due to settlements or curtailments. For defined contribution plans, the pension expense generally equals the firm's contribution to employees' accounts (if the firm contributes) during the period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PensionExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount charged against earnings in the period for incurred and estimated costs, excluding asset retirement obligations, associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a program that is planned and controlled by management, and materially changes either the scope of a business undertaken by an entity, or the manner in which that business is conducted.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section P
-Subsection 3, 4

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate revenue recognized during the period (derived from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an entity's earning process). For financial services companies, also includes investment and interest income, and sales and trading gains.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 1
-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Revenues
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate revenue during the period from the sale of goods in the normal course of business, after deducting returns, allowances and discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 1
-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate revenue during the period from services rendered in the normal course of business, after deducting allowances and discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 1
-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueServicesNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of profit or loss recognized by the reportable segment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 131
-Paragraph 27

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationProfitLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration