Acquisitions and Divestitures - Pro Forma (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Net sales and operating revenues	$ 4,319	$ 4,283	$ 13,307	$ 13,581
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	168	287	369	745
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ 84	$ 142	$ 57	$ 313
Basic earnings (loss) per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.03	$ 1.75	$ 0.70	$ 3.88
Diluted earnings (loss) per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.03	$ 1.75	$ 0.70	$ 3.87

The pro forma basic net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(2)
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The pro forma diluted net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

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Amount after tax of pro forma income from continuing operations as if the business combination had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
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The pro forma net Income or Loss for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=79982066&loc=d3e1392-128463

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The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

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