Revenues (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 04, 2020	Mar. 30, 2019
Revenues
Total revenues	$ 2,777	$ 3,109
United States
Revenues
Total revenues	1,908	2,021
Europe
Revenues
Total revenues	349	538
Asia and Australia
Revenues
Total revenues	247	199
Other international
Revenues
Total revenues	273	351
Commercial
Revenues
Total revenues	1,870	2,318
U.S. Government
Revenues
Total revenues	907	791
Textron Aviation
Revenues
Total revenues	872	1,134
Textron Aviation | United States
Revenues
Total revenues	597	789
Textron Aviation | Europe
Revenues
Total revenues	84	183
Textron Aviation | Asia and Australia
Revenues
Total revenues	123	23
Textron Aviation | Other international
Revenues
Total revenues	68	139
Textron Aviation | Commercial
Revenues
Total revenues	848	1,092
Textron Aviation | U.S. Government
Revenues
Total revenues	24	42
Textron Aviation | Aircraft
Revenues
Total revenues	515	766
Textron Aviation | Aftermarket parts and services
Revenues
Total revenues	357	368
Bell
Revenues
Total revenues	823	739
Bell | United States
Revenues
Total revenues	690	578
Bell | Europe
Revenues
Total revenues	24	20
Bell | Asia and Australia
Revenues
Total revenues	50	82
Bell | Other international
Revenues
Total revenues	59	59
Bell | Commercial
Revenues
Total revenues	198	230
Bell | U.S. Government
Revenues
Total revenues	625	509
Bell | Military aircraft and support programs
Revenues
Total revenues	620	508
Bell | Commercial helicopters, parts and services
Revenues
Total revenues	203	231
Textron Systems
Revenues
Total revenues	328	307
Textron Systems | United States
Revenues
Total revenues	286	257
Textron Systems | Europe
Revenues
Total revenues	12	23
Textron Systems | Asia and Australia
Revenues
Total revenues	20	16
Textron Systems | Other international
Revenues
Total revenues	10	11
Textron Systems | Commercial
Revenues
Total revenues	71	74
Textron Systems | U.S. Government
Revenues
Total revenues	257	233
Textron Systems | Unmanned systems
Revenues
Total revenues	148	134
Textron Systems | Marine and land systems
Revenues
Total revenues	48	48
Textron Systems | Simulation, training and other
Revenues
Total revenues	132	125
Industrial
Revenues
Total revenues	740	912
Industrial | United States
Revenues
Total revenues	329	389
Industrial | Europe
Revenues
Total revenues	228	311
Industrial | Asia and Australia
Revenues
Total revenues	53	77
Industrial | Other international
Revenues
Total revenues	130	135
Industrial | Commercial
Revenues
Total revenues	739	905
Industrial | U.S. Government
Revenues
Total revenues	1	7
Industrial | Fuel systems and functional components
Revenues
Total revenues	465	594
Industrial | Specialized vehicles
Revenues
Total revenues	275	318
Finance
Revenues
Finance revenues	14	17
Finance | United States
Revenues
Finance revenues	6	8
Finance | Europe
Revenues
Finance revenues	1	1
Finance | Asia and Australia
Revenues
Finance revenues	1	1
Finance | Other international
Revenues
Finance revenues	6	7
Finance | Commercial
Revenues
Finance revenues	$ 14	$ 17