Earnings Per Share - Summary of Earnings Per Share of Common Stock (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Basic earnings per share —
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ 54	$ 83	$ 162	$ 139
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	51,272,618	52,508,078	51,247,664	53,265,149
Earnings per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.05	$ 1.57	$ 3.17	$ 2.61
Diluted earnings per share —
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ 54	$ 83	$ 162	$ 139
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	51,272,618	52,508,078	51,247,664	53,265,149
Effect of dilutive securities:
Restricted stock, PSUs and RSUs (in shares)	93,956	89,666	95,022	106,320
Stock options (in shares)	35,255	89,912	53,241	130,395
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding including dilutive securities (in shares)	51,401,829	52,687,656	51,395,927	53,501,864
Earnings per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.05	$ 1.57	$ 3.16	$ 2.60