Retirement Plans Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
Net actuarial (gain) loss	$ (551)	$ (422)	$ (237)
U.S. Pension Plans
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
Service cost	16	31	70
Interest cost	101	122	138
Expected return on plan assets	(187)	(181)	(207)
Net actuarial (gain) loss	(275)	(387)	(126)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	0	0	1
Curtailment gain	0	0	0
Settlement (gain) loss	11	1	15
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	$ (216)	$ (360)	$ (143)
Expense Assumptions:
Discount rate	4.40%	4.35%	4.90%
Expected return on plan assets	7.50%	7.50%	8.00%
Rate of compensation increase	3.25%	3.25%	3.30%
Non-U.S. Pension
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
Service cost	$ 29	$ 32	$ 38
Interest cost	42	57	71
Expected return on plan assets	(56)	(71)	(75)
Net actuarial (gain) loss	(277)	(14)	(172)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	1	(1)	(1)
Curtailment gain	0	(15)	(2)
Settlement (gain) loss	6	0	1
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	$ (299)	$ (16)	$ (204)
Expense Assumptions:
Discount rate	3.15%	3.00%	3.60%
Expected return on plan assets	4.45%	4.50%	4.75%
Rate of compensation increase	3.30%	2.60%	2.60%
Postretirement Benefits
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
Service cost	$ 2	$ 3	$ 5
Interest cost	6	9	12
Expected return on plan assets	(10)	(12)	(12)
Net actuarial (gain) loss	1	(21)	24
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)	(1)	(1)	(7)
Curtailment gain	0	0	0
Settlement (gain) loss	0	0	0
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	$ 4	$ (20)	$ 26
Expense Assumptions:
Discount rate	3.75%	4.35%	4.90%
Expected return on plan assets	5.45%	5.75%	5.80%
Discontinued Operations \| U.S. Pension Plans
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Discontinued Operations \| Non-U.S. Pension
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	0	(14)	38
Discontinued Operations \| Postretirement Benefits
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	0	0	0
Continuing Operations [Member] \| U.S. Pension Plans
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	(216)	(360)	(143)
Continuing Operations [Member] \| Non-U.S. Pension
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
Service cost	29	25
Interest cost	42	46
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	(299)	(30)	(166)
Continuing Operations [Member] \| Postretirement Benefits
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost:
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)	$ 4	$ (20)	$ 26

JOHNSON CONTROLS INC 10-K