Segment Financial Data (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions |
3 Months Ended |
9 Months Ended |
Sep. 30, 2017 |
Sep. 30, 2016 |
Sep. 30, 2017 |
Sep. 30, 2016 |
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
| Net Sales |
$ 15,062
|
$ 14,354
|
$ 44,157
|
$ 42,585
|
| Operating profit |
$ 2,163
|
$ 2,251
|
$ 6,720
|
$ 6,533
|
| Operating profit margin |
14.40%
|
15.70%
|
15.20%
|
15.30%
|
| Otis [Member] |
|
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
| Net Sales |
$ 3,156
|
$ 3,018
|
$ 9,091
|
$ 8,830
|
| Operating profit |
$ 555
|
$ 584
|
$ 1,551
|
$ 1,631
|
| Operating profit margin |
17.60%
|
19.40%
|
17.10%
|
18.50%
|
| UTC Climate, Controls & Security [Member] |
|
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
| Net Sales |
$ 4,688
|
$ 4,415
|
$ 13,292
|
$ 12,602
|
| Operating profit |
$ 828
|
$ 801
|
$ 2,664
|
$ 2,279
|
| Operating profit margin |
17.70%
|
18.10%
|
20.00%
|
18.10%
|
| Pratt & Whitney [Member] |
|
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
| Net Sales |
$ 3,871
|
$ 3,501
|
$ 11,699
|
$ 10,902
|
| Operating profit |
$ 229
|
$ 340
|
$ 1,024
|
$ 1,136
|
| Operating profit margin |
5.90%
|
9.70%
|
8.80%
|
10.40%
|
| UTC Aerospace Systems [Member] |
|
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
| Net Sales |
$ 3,637
|
$ 3,646
|
$ 10,888
|
$ 10,867
|
| Operating profit |
$ 616
|
$ 600
|
$ 1,771
|
$ 1,720
|
| Operating profit margin |
16.90%
|
16.50%
|
16.30%
|
15.80%
|
| Total Segments [Member] |
|
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
| Net Sales |
$ 15,352
|
$ 14,580
|
$ 44,970
|
$ 43,201
|
| Operating profit |
$ 2,228
|
$ 2,325
|
$ 7,010
|
$ 6,766
|
| Operating profit margin |
14.50%
|
15.90%
|
15.60%
|
15.70%
|
| Eliminations and other [Member] |
|
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
| Net Sales |
$ (290)
|
$ (226)
|
$ (813)
|
$ (616)
|
| Operating profit |
40
|
18
|
25
|
47
|
| General corporate expenses [Member] |
|
|
|
|
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |
|
|
|
|
| Net Sales |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Operating profit |
$ (105)
|
$ (92)
|
$ (315)
|
$ (280)
|