CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY - 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)		35,502
Restricted shares forfeited (shares)		(104,668)
Stock options exercised (shares)		168,105
Premium on common stock issued pursuant to benefit plans			8,000,000
Other comprehensive (loss) income	$ 67,000,000			64,000,000			$ 64,000,000	3,000,000
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	56,000,000				56,000,000
Cash dividends declared	(0.50)				(26,000,000)
Purchase of common stock through stock repurchase program (shares)						1,023,800
Purchase of common stock through stock repurchase program						$ 60,000,000
Net income								14,000,000
Other comprehensive income	1,000,000							1,000,000
Dividends declared								(20,000,000)
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2017		65,990,869				12,679,738
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive (loss) income	38,000,000						36,000,000	2,000,000
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	(3,000,000)
Cash dividends declared	(0.25)
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2017		65,990,869				12,679,738
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	657,000,000	$ 1,000,000	3,106,000,000	(601,000,000)	(1,070,000,000)	$ (821,000,000)	615,000,000	42,000,000
Ending balance	657,000,000	1,000,000	3,106,000,000	(601,000,000)	(1,070,000,000)	(821,000,000)	615,000,000	42,000,000
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]
Stock options exercised (shares)	4,607
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)		(15,837)
Restricted shares forfeited (shares)		(7,254)
Stock options exercised (shares)		4,779
Premium on common stock issued pursuant to benefit plans			6,000,000
Other comprehensive (loss) income	$ (66,000,000)			(67,000,000)			(67,000,000)	1,000,000
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	108,000,000				108,000,000
Cash dividends declared	(0.50)				(25,000,000)
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)
Purchase of common stock through stock repurchase program (shares)						0
Purchase of common stock through stock repurchase program						$ 0
Net income								14,000,000
Other comprehensive income	(1,000,000)							2,000,000
Dividends declared								(18,000,000)
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2018		66,015,197				14,592,888
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(96,000,000)						(89,000,000)	(7,000,000)
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	50,000,000
Cash dividends declared	(0.25)
Ending balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2018		66,015,197				14,592,888
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	761,000,000	$ 1,000,000	3,118,000,000	(608,000,000)	(864,000,000)	$ (930,000,000)	717,000,000	44,000,000
Ending balance	$ 761,000,000	$ 1,000,000	$ 3,118,000,000	$ (608,000,000)	$ (864,000,000)	$ (930,000,000)	$ 717,000,000	$ 44,000,000