Acquisitions and Divestitures - Pro Forma (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Net sales and operating revenues	$ 4,143	$ 4,319	$ 4,504	$ 4,484	$ 4,278	$ 2,371	$ 2,533	$ 2,581	$ 17,450	$ 11,763	$ 9,274
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests									(201)	174	336
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ (313)	$ 70	$ 26	$ (117)	$ (109)	$ 57	$ 47	$ 60	$ (334)	$ 55	$ 198
Earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ (3.87)	$ 0.87	$ 0.32	$ (1.44)	$ (1.35)	$ 1.11	$ 0.92	$ 1.17	$ (4.12)	$ 0.93	$ 3.75
Earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ (3.87)	$ 0.87	$ 0.32	$ (1.44)	$ (1.35)	$ 1.11	$ 0.92	$ 1.17	$ (4.12)	$ 0.93	$ 3.73
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Net sales and operating revenues										$ 17,860	$ 17,153
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interests										488	235
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.										$ 275	$ 372
Basic earnings per share of common stock (in dollars per share)										$ 3.41	$ 4.52
Diluted earnings per share of common stock (in dollars per share)										$ 3.40	$ 4.51