Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenues
Net sales and operating revenues - External									$ 7,205	$ 5,937	$ 4,649
Net sales and operating revenues	1,784	1,773	1,888	1,760	1,577	1,542	1,502	1,316	7,205	5,937	4,649
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)	1,514	1,492	1,565	1,466	1,325	1,280	1,222	1,073	6,037	4,900	3,875
Goodwill impairment charge									11
Engineering, research, and development									133	117	97
Selling, general, and administrative									428	417	344
Depreciation and amortization of other intangibles									207	216	221
Total costs and expenses									6,816	5,650	4,537
Other income (expense)
Loss on sale of receivables									(5)	(3)	(9)
Other income (expense)									(5)	(3)	(11)
Total other income (expense)									(10)	(6)	(20)
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, and noncontrolling interests	88	84	113	94	62	67	93	59	379	281	92
Interest expense -
External (net of interest capitalized)									108	149	133
Earnings (loss) before income taxes, noncontrolling interests and equity in net income from affiliated companies									271	132	(41)
Income tax expense (benefit)									88	69	13
Net income (loss)									183	63	(54)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									26	24	19
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.	30	30	50	47	(18)	10	40	7	157	39	(73)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues
Net sales and operating revenues - External									3,103	2,571	1,915
Affiliated companies									162	130	92
Net sales and operating revenues									3,265	2,701	2,007
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)									2,764	2,331	1,836
Engineering, research, and development									57	48	36
Selling, general, and administrative									144	153	105
Depreciation and amortization of other intangibles									74	86	91
Total costs and expenses									3,039	2,618	2,068
Other income (expense)
Other income (expense)									80	12	(2)
Total other income (expense)									80	12	(2)
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, and noncontrolling interests									306	95	(63)
Interest expense -
External (net of interest capitalized)									(1)	(2)	(1)
Affiliated companies (net of interest income)									211	186	140
Earnings (loss) before income taxes, noncontrolling interests and equity in net income from affiliated companies									96	(89)	(202)
Income tax expense (benefit)									12	7	(1)
Equity in net income (loss) from affiliated companies									116	154	124
Net income (loss)									200	58	(77)
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.									200	58	(77)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues
Net sales and operating revenues - External									4,102	3,366	2,734
Affiliated companies									514	472	399
Net sales and operating revenues									4,616	3,838	3,133
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)									3,949	3,171	2,530
Goodwill impairment charge									11
Engineering, research, and development									76	69	61
Selling, general, and administrative									281	261	236
Depreciation and amortization of other intangibles									133	130	130
Total costs and expenses									4,450	3,631	2,957
Other income (expense)
Loss on sale of receivables									(5)	(3)	(9)
Other income (expense)									1	1	4
Total other income (expense)									(4)	(2)	(5)
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, and noncontrolling interests									162	205	171
Interest expense -
External (net of interest capitalized)									6	7	4
Affiliated companies (net of interest income)									(72)	(54)	(15)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes, noncontrolling interests and equity in net income from affiliated companies									228	252	182
Income tax expense (benefit)									76	62	33
Net income (loss)									152	190	149
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									26	24	19
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.									126	166	130
Tenneco Inc. (Parent Company) [Member]
Costs and expenses
Selling, general, and administrative									3	3	3
Total costs and expenses									3	3	3
Other income (expense)
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, and noncontrolling interests									(3)	(3)	(3)
Interest expense -
External (net of interest capitalized)									103	144	130
Affiliated companies (net of interest income)									(139)	(132)	(125)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes, noncontrolling interests and equity in net income from affiliated companies									33	(15)	(8)
Income tax expense (benefit)											(19)
Equity in net income (loss) from affiliated companies									124	54	(84)
Net income (loss)									157	39	(73)
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.									157	39	(73)
Reclass & Elims [Member]
Revenues
Affiliated companies									(676)	(602)	(491)
Net sales and operating revenues									(676)	(602)	(491)
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below)									(676)	(602)	(491)
Total costs and expenses									(676)	(602)	(491)
Other income (expense)
Other income (expense)									(86)	(16)	(13)
Total other income (expense)									(86)	(16)	(13)
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, and noncontrolling interests									(86)	(16)	(13)
Interest expense -
Earnings (loss) before income taxes, noncontrolling interests and equity in net income from affiliated companies									(86)	(16)	(13)
Equity in net income (loss) from affiliated companies									(240)	(208)	(40)
Net income (loss)									(326)	(224)	(53)
Net income (loss) attributable to Tenneco Inc.									$ (326)	$ (224)	$ (53)