Earnings Per Share - Summary of Earnings Per Share of Common Stock (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Basic earnings per share —
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ 86	$ 78	$ 78	$ 143	$ 127
Weighted Average shares of common stock outstanding	56,873,353	60,829,125	60,829,125	56,991,568	60,929,839
Earnings per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.51	$ 1.27	$ 1.27	$ 2.50	$ 2.08
Diluted earnings per share —
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ 86	$ 78	$ 78	$ 143	$ 127
Weighted Average shares of common stock outstanding	56,873,353	60,829,125	60,829,125	56,991,568	60,929,839
Effect of dilutive securities:
Restricted stock	134,084	108,266		93,947	97,009
Stock options	324,312	426,311		306,417	462,067
Weighted Average shares of common stock outstanding including dilutive securities	57,331,749	61,363,702	61,363,702	57,391,932	61,488,915
Earnings per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.49	$ 1.26	$ 1.26	$ 2.49	$ 2.06