Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Apr. 03, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Net pre-tax restructuring costs		$ 250					$ 685
Goodwill, Impairment Loss		0		$ 0			3,183	$ 0
Estimated credit losses		48					357
Operating Income (Loss)		434		1,430			(2,031)	3,958
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to common shareowners		$ 151		$ 958			$ (3,255)	$ 2,853
Income (loss) from continuing operations		$ 0.10		$ 1.11			$ (2.48)	$ 3.31
Contract with Customer, Performance Obligation Satisfied in Previous Period		$ (231)		$ 1			$ (432)	$ (114)
Capitalized Contract Cost, Gross		$ 1,912			$ 1,912		$ 1,912		$ 1,519
Collaborators Interests Existing Programs Low End		13.00%			13.00%		13.00%
Collaborators Interests Existing Programs High End		49.00%			49.00%		49.00%
Partner share individual program maximum		31.00%			31.00%		31.00%
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Amount		$ 152,300			$ 152,300		$ 152,300
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligations, to be recognized within 24 months		30.00%			30.00%		30.00%
ASU 2016-13 [Member]
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification							$ 59
Collins Aerospace Systems [Member]
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Net pre-tax restructuring costs		$ 138					295
Goodwill, Impairment Loss			$ 3,200				3,183
Contract asset and inventory write-offs		13					146
Operating Income (Loss)		526		1,259			1,455	3,499
Collins Aerospace Systems [Member] | Patents and trademarks [Member]
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Asset Impairment Charges						$ 57
Pratt & Whitney [Member]
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Net pre-tax restructuring costs		68					175
Goodwill, Impairment Loss							0
Unfavorable EAC adjustment on a commercial engine aftermarket contract		334					334
Unfavorable EAC adjustment related to the restructuring of a customer contract		129					129
Asset Impairment Charges		89					89
Unfavorable EAC adjustments on commercial aftermarket contracts					$ 48
Unfavorable EAC adjustment related to military contracts			$ 44
Operating Income (Loss)		(615)		520			$ (597)	1,447
Otis [Member]
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Shares of common stock distributed in the Distribution	433,079,455
Carrier [Member]
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Shares of common stock distributed in the Distribution	866,158,910
Minimum [Member]
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Operating Cycle							one year
Contracts Accounted for under Percentage of Completion [Member]
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Operating Income (Loss)		(462)		4			$ (592)	(77)
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to common shareowners		$ (365)		$ 3			$ (468)	$ (61)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		$ (0.24)		$ 0			$ (0.36)	$ (0.07)