Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity Attributable to Johnson Controls Ordinary Shareholders - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Ordinary Shares	Capital in excess of par value	Retained Earnings	Treasury Stock, at Cost	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Power Solutions	Power Solutions Ordinary Shares	Power Solutions Capital in excess of par value	Power Solutions Retained Earnings	Power Solutions Treasury Stock, at Cost	Power Solutions Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Beginning balance at Sep. 30, 2016	$ 24,118	$ 9	$ 16,105	$ 9,177	$ (20)	$ (1,153)
Comprehensive income (loss)	1,710	0	0	1,611	0	99
Cash dividends	(938)	0	0	(938)	0	0
Repurchases and retirements of ordinary shares	(651)	0	0	0	(651)	0
Accounting Pronouncement \| Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member]						0
Spin-off of Adient	(4,038)	0	0	(4,619)	0	581
Other, including options exercised	246	0	285	0	(39)	0
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2017	20,447	9	16,390	5,231	(710)	(473)
Comprehensive income (loss)	1,689	0	0	2,162	0	(473)
Cash dividends	(968)	0	0	(968)	0	0
Repurchases and retirements of ordinary shares	(300)	0	0	0	(300)	0
Accounting Pronouncement \| Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 [Member]	179	0	0	179	0	0
Accounting Pronouncement \| Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member]						0
Other, including options exercised	117	1	159	0	(43)	0
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018	21,164	10	16,549	6,604	(1,053)	(946)
Comprehensive income (loss)	5,350	0	0	5,674	0	(324)
Cash dividends	(887)	0	0	(887)	0	0
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value	5,983	2	0	5,981	0	0
Shareholders' equity, divestiture of Power Solutions							$ 483	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 483
Accounting Pronouncement \| Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]	(45)	0	0	(45)	0	0
Accounting Pronouncement \| Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member]	0	0	0	8	0	(8)
Accounting Pronouncement \| Accounting Standards Update 2016-16 [Member]	(546)	0	0	(546)	0	0
Other, including options exercised	230	0	263	0	(33)	0
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 19,766	$ 8	$ 16,812	$ 4,827	$ (1,086)	$ (795)

Shareholders' equity, divestiture of Power Solutions

No definition available.

Name:	jci_ShareholdersequitydivestitureofPowerSolutions
Namespace Prefix:	jci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Stockholder's equity, spin-off of Adient

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	jci_StockholdersequityspinoffofAdient
Namespace Prefix:	jci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income, attributable to parent entity. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=d3e557-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1B
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669625-108580

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669619-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the cumulative effect on retained earnings net of related income tax effect.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 250
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109234566&loc=d3e22663-107794

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOnRetainedEarningsNetOfTax1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of paid and unpaid common stock dividends declared with the form of settlement in cash.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DividendsCommonStockCash
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Equity impact of the value of stock that has been repurchased and retired during the period. The excess of the purchase price over par value can be charged against retained earnings (once the excess is fully allocated to additional paid in capital).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(28))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(29))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which are attributable to the parent. The amount of the economic entity's stockholders' equity attributable to the parent excludes the amount of stockholders' equity which is allocable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (noncontrolling interest, minority interest). This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 4.E)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27010918&loc=d3e74512-122707

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(31))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(29))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(30))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents movements included in the statement of changes in stockholders' equity which are not separately disclosed or provided for elsewhere in the taxonomy.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockholdersEquityOther
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Equity impact of the cost of common and preferred stock that were repurchased during the period. Recorded using the cost method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405813&loc=d3e23239-112655

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201601Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201609Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201409Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201616Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: