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, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Basic earnings per share —
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ (3)	$ 82	$ 56	$ 139
Weighted Average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	53,505,341	56,873,353	53,662,375	56,991,568
Earnings per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ (0.05)	$ 1.44	$ 1.05	$ 2.44
Diluted earnings per share —
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ (3)	$ 82	$ 56	$ 139
Weighted Average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	53,505,341	56,873,353	53,662,375	56,991,568
Effect of dilutive securities:
Restricted stock (in shares)	0	134,084	111,459	93,947
Stock options (in shares)	0	324,312	179,084	306,417
Weighted Average shares of common stock outstanding including dilutive securities (in shares)	53,505,341	57,331,749	53,952,918	57,391,932
Earnings per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ (0.05)	$ 1.43	$ 1.05	$ 2.42