EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE (Details) (USD $) Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations less net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest	$ 950,000,000	$ 685,000,000	$ 2,675,000,000	$ 2,168,000,000
Income from discontinued operations	0	177,000,000	0	209,000,000
Net income attributable to Honeywell	950,000,000	862,000,000	2,675,000,000	2,377,000,000
Weighted average shares outstanding	783.6	778.2	780.7	782.9
Earnings per share continuing operations - basic:	$ 1.21	$ 0.88	$ 3.43	$ 2.77
Earnings per share discontinued operations - basic:	$ 0	$ 0.23	$ 0	$ 0.27
Earnings per share: Basic	$ 1.21	$ 1.11	$ 3.43	$ 3.04
Assuming dilution
Income from continuing operations less net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest	950,000,000	685,000,000	2,675,000,000	2,168,000,000
Income from discontinued operations	0	177,000,000	0	209,000,000
Net income attributable to Honeywell	$ 950,000,000	$ 862,000,000	$ 2,675,000,000	$ 2,377,000,000
Average shares
Weighted average shares outstanding	783.6	778.2	780.7	782.9
Dilutive securities issuable - stock plans	8.9	8.7	9.7	11.1
Total weighted average diluted shares outstanding	792.5	786.9	790.4	794.0
Earnings per share continuing operations - assuming dilution:	$ 1.20	$ 0.87	$ 3.38	$ 2.73
Earnings per share discontinued operations - assuming dilution:	$ 0	$ 0.23	$ 0	$ 0.26
Earnings per share - Assuming dilution	$ 1.20	$ 1.10	$ 3.38	$ 2.99
Earnings Per Share Paragraph Details [Abstract]
Stock options excluded from diluted computations	16.6	11.6	14.3	8.9