Basis of Presentation (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Basis of Presentation (Policies)	Sep. 30, 2017
Basis of Presentation
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates We prepare our financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, which require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Our estimates and assumptions are reviewed periodically, and the effects of changes, if any, are reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the period that they are determined. We periodically change our estimates of revenues and costs on certain long-term contracts that are accounted for under the percentage-of-completion method of accounting. These changes in estimates increased income from continuing operations before income taxes in the third quarter of 2017 and 2016 by $5 million and $18 million, respectively, ($3 million and $11 million after tax, or $0.01 and $0.04 per diluted share, respectively). For the third quarter of 2017 and 2016, the gross favorable program profit adjustments totaled $20 million and $21 million, respectively, and the gross unfavorable program profit adjustments totaled $15 million and $3 million, respectively. The changes in estimates increased income from continuing operations before income taxes in the first nine months of 2017 and 2016 by $2 million and $57 million, respectively, ($1 million and $36 million after tax, or $0.00 and $0.13 per diluted share, respectively). For the first nine months of 2017 and 2016, the gross favorable program profit adjustments totaled $63 million and $74 million, respectively, and the gross unfavorable program profit adjustments totaled $61 million and $17 million, respectively.
New Accounting Pronouncements	New Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, that outlines a five-step revenue recognition model based on the principle that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. The standard is effective as of the beginning of 2018 for public companies and may be adopted either retrospectively or on a modified retrospective basis. We expect to apply the standard on a modified retrospective basis, with a cumulative catch-up adjustment recognized at the beginning of 2018. Based on our review and analysis of our contracts through the end of the third quarter of 2017, we believe that the standard will primarily impact our Bell and Textron Systems segments, which have long-term production contracts with the U.S. Government as these contracts currently use the units-of-delivery accounting method; under the new standard, these contracts will transition to a model that recognizes revenue over time, principally as costs are incurred, resulting in earlier revenue recognition. In 2016, approximately 25% of our revenues were from contracts with the U.S. Government. We do not expect that the new standard will have a significant impact on revenue recognition for our Textron Aviation and Industrial segments. For these segments, we expect to continue to primarily recognize revenue for contracts at the point in time when the customer accepts delivery of the goods provided. We are currently evaluating the new disclosure requirements of the standard and expect to complete our assessment of the cumulative effect of adopting the standard in the fourth quarter of 2017. Our evaluation of the standard will continue through the adoption date, including any impacts related to new contracts awarded and any new or emerging interpretations of the standard. We are in the process of implementing changes to business processes, systems and internal controls required to implement and account for the new standard. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases, that requires lessees to recognize all leases with a term greater than 12 months on the balance sheet as right-to-use assets and lease liabilities, while lease expenses would continue to be recognized in the statement of operations in a manner similar to current accounting guidance. Under the current accounting guidance, we are not required to recognize assets and liabilities arising from operating leases on the balance sheet. The new standard is effective for our company at the beginning of 2019 and early adoption is permitted. Entities must adopt the standard on a modified retrospective basis whereby it would be applied at the beginning of the earliest comparative year. While we continue to evaluate the impact of the standard on our consolidated financial statements, we expect that it will materially increase our assets and liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet as we recognize the rights and corresponding obligations related to our operating leases. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses. For most financial assets, such as trade and other receivables, loans and other instruments, this standard changes the current incurred loss model to a forward-looking expected credit loss model, which generally will result in the earlier recognition of allowances for losses. The new standard is effective for our company at the beginning of 2020 with early adoption permitted beginning in 2019. Entities are required to apply the provisions of the standard through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the effective date. We are currently evaluating the impact of the standard on our consolidated financial statements. In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. This standard requires companies to present only the service cost component of net periodic benefit costs in operating income in the same line as other employee compensation costs, while the other components of net periodic benefit costs must be excluded from operating income. In addition, only the service cost component will be eligible for capitalization into inventory. This standard is effective for our company at the beginning of 2018. The reclassification of the other components of net periodic benefit cost out of operating income must be applied retrospectively, while the change in the amount companies may capitalize into inventory can be applied prospectively. We are evaluating the impact of this standard and do not expect it to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.