COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES 3 (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Asbestos Related Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]
Asbestos Related Liabilities, Beginning of Period	$ 1,772,000,000
Accrual for update to estimated liability	51,000,000
Asbestos related liability payments	(43,000,000)
Asbestos Related Liabilities, End of Period	1,780,000,000
Asbestos Related Liabilities Insurance Recoveries [Line Items]
Insurance Recoveries, beginning of period	707,000,000
Probable insurance recoveries related to estimated liability	10,000,000
Insurance receipts for asbestos related liabilities	(19,000,000)
Insurance recoveries, end of period	698,000,000
Bendix Asbestos Loss Contingency Liability [Member]
Asbestos Related Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]
Asbestos Related Liabilities, Beginning of Period	653,000,000
Accrual for update to estimated liability	49,000,000
Asbestos related liability payments	(42,000,000)
Asbestos Related Liabilities, End of Period	660,000,000
Asbestos Related Liabilities Insurance Recoveries [Line Items]
Insurance Recoveries, beginning of period	138,000,000
Probable insurance recoveries related to estimated liability	10,000,000
Insurance receipts for asbestos related liabilities	(8,000,000)
Insurance recoveries, end of period	140,000,000
Narco Asbestos Loss Contingency Liability [Member]
Asbestos Related Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]
Asbestos Related Liabilities, Beginning of Period	1,119,000,000
Accrual for update to estimated liability	2,000,000
Asbestos related liability payments	(1,000,000)
Asbestos Related Liabilities, End of Period	1,120,000,000
Asbestos Related Liabilities Insurance Recoveries [Line Items]
Insurance Recoveries, beginning of period	569,000,000
Probable insurance recoveries related to estimated liability	0
Insurance receipts for asbestos related liabilities	(11,000,000)
Insurance recoveries, end of period	$ 558,000,000

Name:	hon_AsbestosRelatedLiabilitiesInsuranceRecoveriesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	hon_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount charged against operating income increasing loss contingency liability, after adjustments to reduce previously estimated charges

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hon_LossContingencyAccrualProvision
Namespace Prefix:	hon_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of a receivable related to a loss contingency accrual. For example, an insurance recovery receivable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hon_LossContingencyReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	hon_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the combined total of loss contingency liabilities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14326-108349

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The payments made in the period which reduced loss contingency liabilities.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValuePayments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of receivables pertaining to a loss contingency added in the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 9

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 460

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12053-110248

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyRelatedReceivableCarryingValueAdditions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The collections in the period which reduce the recorded receivable pertaining to a loss contingency accrual.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyRelatedReceivableCarryingValueReceipts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration