Note 14: Segment Financial Data (Details) (USD $)
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2011
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Total net sales $ 15,042,000,000 $ 14,235,000,000 $ 41,265,000,000 $ 41,377,000,000
Operating profit 2,041,000,000 2,151,000,000 5,933,000,000 6,001,000,000
Operating Profit Margin 13.60% 15.10% 14.40% 14.50%
Date Of Announcement Of Changes In Organizational Structure     September 28, 2011  
Effective Date Of Announcement Of Changes In Organizational Structure     January 1, 2012  
Business Acquisition Revenue Reported By Acquired Entity For Current Year 600,000,000   600,000,000  
Otis [Member]
       
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Total net sales 3,054,000,000 3,262,000,000 8,851,000,000 9,226,000,000
Operating profit 651,000,000 731,000,000 1,868,000,000 2,104,000,000
Operating Profit Margin 21.30% 22.40% 21.10% 22.80%
UTC Climate Controls and Security [Member]
       
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Total net sales 4,259,000,000 4,921,000,000 12,943,000,000 14,454,000,000
Operating profit 632,000,000 615,000,000 1,965,000,000 1,751,000,000
Operating Profit Margin 14.80% 12.50% 15.20% 12.10%
Pratt and Whitney [Member]
       
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Total net sales 3,574,000,000 3,081,000,000 10,073,000,000 9,230,000,000
Operating profit 409,000,000 496,000,000 1,225,000,000 1,348,000,000
Operating Profit Margin 11.40% 16.10% 12.20% 14.60%
UTC Aerospace Systems [Member]
       
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Total net sales 2,670,000,000 1,187,000,000 5,160,000,000 3,496,000,000
Operating profit 271,000,000 204,000,000 680,000,000 561,000,000
Operating Profit Margin 10.10% 17.20% 13.20% 16.00%
Sikorsky [Member]
       
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Total net sales 1,649,000,000 1,877,000,000 4,615,000,000 5,245,000,000
Operating profit 203,000,000 215,000,000 552,000,000 633,000,000
Operating Profit Margin 12.30% 11.50% 12.00% 12.10%
Total Segments [Member]
       
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Total net sales 15,206,000,000 14,328,000,000 41,642,000,000 41,651,000,000
Operating profit 2,166,000,000 2,261,000,000 6,290,000,000 6,397,000,000
Operating Profit Margin 14.20% 15.80% 15.10% 15.40%
Eliminations and other [Member]
       
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Total net sales (164,000,000) (93,000,000) (377,000,000) (274,000,000)
Operating profit (22,000,000) (8,000,000) (54,000,000) (101,000,000)
General corporate expenses [Member]
       
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Total net sales 0 0 0 0
Operating profit $ (103,000,000) $ (102,000,000) $ (303,000,000) $ (295,000,000)