UNAUDITED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2011 Consumer Products Group [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Consumer Products Group [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Consumer Products Group [Member]
Selected Quarterly Financial Information Abstract
Net sales	$ 9,581,000,000	$ 9,342,000,000	$ 9,435,000,000	$ 9,307,000,000	$ 9,473,000,000	$ 9,298,000,000	$ 9,086,000,000	$ 8,672,000,000	$ 37,665,000,000	$ 36,529,000,000	$ 32,350,000,000
Gross Profit	1,900,000,000	2,534,000,000	2,513,000,000	2,427,000,000	1,038,000,000	2,265,000,000	2,422,000,000	2,248,000,000	9,374,000,000	7,973,000,000
Income from continuing operations less net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest	251,000,000	950,000,000	902,000,000	823,000,000	(310,000,000)	685,000,000	796,000,000	687,000,000	2,926,000,000	1,858,000,000	1,944,000,000
Income from discontinued operations	0	0	0	0	0	177,000,000	14,000,000	18,000,000	0	209,000,000	78,000,000		209,000,000	78,000,000
Net income attributable to Honeywell	251,000,000	950,000,000	902,000,000	823,000,000	(310,000,000)	862,000,000	810,000,000	705,000,000	2,926,000,000	2,067,000,000	2,022,000,000
Earnings per share continuing operations - basic:	$ 0.32	$ 1.21	$ 1.15	$ 1.06	$ (0.40)	$ 0.88	$ 1.01	$ 0.87	$ 3.74	$ 2.38	$ 2.51
Earnings per share discontinued operations - basic:	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.23	$ 0.02	$ 0.03	$ 0	$ 0.27	$ 0.10
Earnings per share: Basic, Total	$ 0.32	$ 1.21	$ 1.15	$ 1.06	$ (0.40)	$ 1.11	$ 1.03	$ 0.90	$ 3.74	$ 2.65	$ 2.61
Earnings per share continuing operations - assuming dilution:	$ 0.32	$ 1.20	$ 1.14	$ 1.04	$ (0.40)	$ 0.87	$ 1.00	$ 0.86	$ 3.69	$ 2.35	$ 2.49
Earnings per share discontinued operations - assuming dilution:	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.23	$ 0.02	$ 0.02	$ 0	$ 0.26	$ 0.10
Earnings per share - Assuming dilution, Total	$ 0.32	$ 1.20	$ 1.14	$ 1.04	$ (0.40)	$ 1.10	$ 1.02	$ 0.88	$ 3.69	$ 2.61	$ 2.59
Dividends paid per share	$ 0.4100	$ 0.3725	$ 0.3725	$ 0.3725	$ 0.3725	$ 0.3325	$ 0.3325	$ 0.3325	$ 1.53	$ 1.37	$ 1.21
Market Price [Abstract]
Market price per share high	$ 64.29	$ 61.72	$ 61.29	$ 61.78	$ 54.98	$ 60.44	$ 62.00	$ 59.71	$ 64.29	$ 62.00
Market price per share low	$ 59.15	$ 53.60	$ 52.92	$ 55.18	$ 42.32	$ 41.94	$ 55.53	$ 53.48	$ 52.92	$ 41.94
Unaudited Quarterly Information [Line Items]
Gain on sale, net of tax												$ 178,000,000	$ 178,000,000	$ 0