Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Jan. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Cover page.
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-134
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	13-0612970
Entity Address, Address Line One	130 Harbour Place Drive, Suite 300
Entity Address, City or Town	Davidson,
Entity Address, State or Province	NC
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	28036
City Area Code	704
Local Phone Number	869-4600
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock
Trading Symbol	CW
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 4.7
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		42,708,603
Entity Registrant Name	Curtiss Wright Corporation
Entity Central Index Key	0000026324
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false