EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE (Details) (USD $) Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 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
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
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
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
Weighted average shares outstanding									782.4	780.8	773.5
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
Assuming dilution
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
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
Average shares
Weighted average shares outstanding									782.4	780.8	773.5
Dilutive securities issuable - stock plans									9.5	10.8	7.4
Total weighted average diluted shares outstanding									791.9	791.6	780.9
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
Earnings Per Share Paragraph Details [Abstract]
Stock options excluded from diluted computations									12.5	9.5	14.8