Document and Entity Information (USD $) In Billions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Registrant Name	Curtiss Wright Corporation
Entity Central Index Key	0000026324
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity well known seasoned issuer	Yes
Entity common stock shares outstanding		46,315,608
Entity Public Float			$ 1.5
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q4
Trading Symbol	cw