CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY (Unaudited) - USD ($)	Total	Common Stock	Premium on Common Stock and Other Capital Surplus	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	Less — Common Stock Held as Treasury Stock, at Cost	Tenneco Inc.	Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 1,000,000	$ 3,098,000,000	$ (665,000,000)	$ (1,100,000,000)	$ (761,000,000)		$ 47,000,000
Ending balance		$ 1,000,000	3,098,000,000	(665,000,000)	(1,100,000,000)	$ (761,000,000)		47,000,000
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		65,891,930				11,655,938
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issued (repurchased) pursuant to benefit plans (in shares)		11,241
Restricted shares forfeited (shares)		(82,808)
Stock options exercised (shares)		164,863
Premium on common stock issued pursuant to benefit plans			6,000,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	$ 29,000,000			28,000,000			$ 28,000,000	1,000,000
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	59,000,000				59,000,000
Cash dividends declared	(0.25)				(13,000,000)
Purchase of common stock through stock repurchase program (shares)						240,000
Purchase of common stock through stock repurchase program						$ 16,000,000
Net income								7,000,000
Other comprehensive income	0							0
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2017		65,985,226				11,895,938
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	691,000,000	$ 1,000,000	3,104,000,000	(637,000,000)	(1,054,000,000)	$ (777,000,000)	637,000,000	54,000,000
Ending balance	691,000,000	1,000,000	3,104,000,000	(637,000,000)	(1,054,000,000)	(777,000,000)	637,000,000	54,000,000
Beginning balance	742,000,000	1,000,000	3,112,000,000	(541,000,000)	(946,000,000)	(930,000,000)		46,000,000
Ending balance	$ 742,000,000	$ 1,000,000	3,112,000,000	(541,000,000)	(946,000,000)	$ (930,000,000)		46,000,000
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		66,033,509				14,592,888
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issued (repurchased) pursuant to benefit plans (in shares)		(15,906)
Restricted shares forfeited (shares)		(5,108)
Stock options exercised (shares)	4,607	4,779
Premium on common stock issued pursuant to benefit plans			3,000,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	$ 30,000,000			22,000,000			22,000,000	8,000,000
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	58,000,000				58,000,000
Cash dividends declared	(0.25)				(13,000,000)
Adoption of accounting standards | ASU 2014-09	1,000,000				1,000,000
Adoption of accounting standards | ASU 2016-16	2,000,000				(2,000,000)
Net income								7,000,000
Other comprehensive income	1,000,000							7,000,000
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018		66,017,274				14,592,888
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	825,000,000	$ 1,000,000	3,115,000,000	(519,000,000)	(902,000,000)	$ (930,000,000)	765,000,000	60,000,000
Ending balance	$ 825,000,000	$ 1,000,000	$ 3,115,000,000	$ (519,000,000)	$ (902,000,000)	$ (930,000,000)	$ 765,000,000	$ 60,000,000