Earnings Per Share - Summary of Earnings Per Share of Common Stock (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Basic earnings per share —
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ 58	$ 59
Weighted Average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	51,211,643	53,856,352
Earnings per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.13	$ 1.10
Diluted earnings per share —
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ 58	$ 59
Weighted Average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	51,211,643	53,856,352
Effect of dilutive securities:
Restricted stock (in shares)	216,351	145,999
Stock options (in shares)	73,649	229,408
Weighted Average shares of common stock outstanding including dilutive securities (in shares)	51,501,643	54,231,759
Earnings per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.13	$ 1.09