Capital Stock - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			87 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 27, 2006	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Aggregate common stock and preferred stock authorized			300,000,000			300,000,000
Common stock, authorized			250,000,000	250,000,000		250,000,000
Common stock, par value			$ 1	$ 1.00		$ 1
Preferred Stock, authorized			50,000,000			50,000,000
Preferred Stock, outstanding			0	0		0
Dividends declared per common share			$ 0.40	$ 0.364	$ 1.591
Term of repurchase program		3 years
Share repurchase program		$ 1,000,000,000
Shares purchased under share repurchase program			3,100,000	5,100,000		15,300,000
Cost of shares repurchased under share repurchase program			85,200,000	113,400,000		629,300,000
Number of share repurchased under settlement of employee tax withholding obligations			100,000	100,000	100,000
Shares repurchased aggregate value under settlement of employee tax withholding obligations			2,700,000	3,400,000	6,600,000
Common Stock held in treasury account			13,000,000	11,900,000		13,000,000
Stockholders equity note reverse stock split conversion ratio	0.50
Xylem [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock of ITT, shares issued	1,000,000
Exelis [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock of ITT, shares issued	1,000,000
Common Stock [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Shares purchased under share repurchase program			3,200,000	5,200,000	100,000
Cost of shares repurchased under share repurchase program			$ 3,200,000	$ 5,200,000	$ 100,000
Issuance of shares from treasury account related to equity compensation arrangements			2,300,000