Special Charges - Special charges by segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Oct. 01, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Jan. 03, 2015
Special Charges
Special Charges.	$ 8	$ 115	$ 123	$ 52
Corporate
Special Charges
Special Charges.			1
Severance Costs
Special Charges
Special Charges.		66	70
Severance Costs | Corporate
Special Charges
Special Charges.			1
Contract Terminations and Other
Special Charges
Special Charges.			15
Textron Systems
Special Charges
Special Charges.			62
Textron Systems | Severance Costs
Special Charges
Special Charges.			15
Textron Systems | Contract Terminations and Other
Special Charges
Special Charges.			13
Textron Aviation
Special Charges
Special Charges.			35
Textron Aviation | Severance Costs
Special Charges
Special Charges.			33
Textron Aviation | Contract Terminations and Other
Special Charges
Special Charges.			1
Industrial
Special Charges
Special Charges.			20
Industrial | Severance Costs
Special Charges
Special Charges.			17
Industrial | Contract Terminations and Other
Special Charges
Special Charges.			1
Bell
Special Charges
Special Charges.			5
Bell | Severance Costs
Special Charges
Special Charges.			4
Asset Impairments
Special Charges
Special Charges.		$ 36	38
Asset Impairments | Textron Systems
Special Charges
Special Charges.			34
Asset Impairments | Textron Aviation
Special Charges
Special Charges.			1
Asset Impairments | Industrial
Special Charges
Special Charges.			2
Asset Impairments | Bell
Special Charges
Special Charges.			$ 1