Condensed Combining Financial Information (Condensed Combining Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 250	$ 342	$ 409	$ 463
Receivables, net	1,066	948
Inventories	1,313	1,148
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	195	165
Total current assets	2,824	2,603
Goodwill	1,998	1,952
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,796	1,751
Other non-current assets	560	562
Total	7,178	6,868
Short-term debt	164	128
Current maturities of long-term debt	66	67
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,863	2,090
Total current liabilities	2,093	2,285
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	3,685	3,337
Postretirement and pension liabilities	994	996
Other non-current liabilities	488	489
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests	242	234
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	(324)	(473)
Total equity/(deficit)	(82)	(239)	339	229
Total	7,178	6,868
Crown European Holdings SA [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	250	342	409	463
Receivables, net	1,066	948
Inventories	1,313	1,148
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	195	165
Total current assets	2,824	2,603
Goodwill	1,998	1,952
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,796	1,751
Other non-current assets	560	562
Total	7,178	6,868
Short-term debt	164	128
Current maturities of long-term debt	66	67
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,863	2,090
Total current liabilities	2,093	2,285
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	3,685	3,337
Postretirement and pension liabilities	994	996
Other non-current liabilities	488	489
Noncontrolling interests	242	234
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	(324)	(473)
Total equity/(deficit)	(82)	(239)
Total	7,178	6,868
Crown European Holdings SA [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Receivables, net
Intercompany receivables
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2
Total current assets	2
Intercompany debt receivables
Investments	359	215
Goodwill
Property, plant and equipment, net
Other non-current assets
Total	361	215
Short-term debt
Current maturities of long-term debt
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	7	20
Intercompany payables
Total current liabilities	7	20
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities
Long-term intercompany debt	678	668
Postretirement and pension liabilities
Other non-current liabilities
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	(324)	(473)
Total equity/(deficit)	(324)	(473)
Total	361	215
Crown European Holdings SA [Member] | Issuer [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Receivables, net
Intercompany receivables	2	2
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	7	7
Total current assets	9	9
Intercompany debt receivables	1,548	1,590
Investments	3,195	3,007
Goodwill
Property, plant and equipment, net
Other non-current assets	12	13
Total	4,764	4,619
Short-term debt	10	6
Current maturities of long-term debt
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	11	20
Intercompany payables		1
Total current liabilities	21	27
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	1,033	1,002
Long-term intercompany debt	2,486	2,481
Postretirement and pension liabilities
Other non-current liabilities
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	1,224	1,109
Total equity/(deficit)	1,224	1,109
Total	4,764	4,619
Crown European Holdings SA [Member] | Guarantors [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	100	54	49	65
Receivables, net	284	456
Intercompany receivables	62	60
Inventories	694	615
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	139	129
Total current assets	1,279	1,314
Intercompany debt receivables	3,599	3,514
Investments	(543)	(577)
Goodwill	1,424	1,396
Property, plant and equipment, net	609	604
Other non-current assets	485	491
Total	6,853	6,742
Short-term debt	16	14
Current maturities of long-term debt	1	1
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,073	1,350
Intercompany payables	25	22
Total current liabilities	1,115	1,387
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	2,476	2,173
Long-term intercompany debt	1,612	1,664
Postretirement and pension liabilities	974	986
Other non-current liabilities	317	321
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests		(4)
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	359	215
Total equity/(deficit)	359	211
Total	6,853	6,742
Crown European Holdings SA [Member] | Non-Guarantors [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	150	288	360	398
Receivables, net	782	492
Intercompany receivables	25	23
Inventories	619	533
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	47	29
Total current assets	1,623	1,365
Intercompany debt receivables	379	327
Investments
Goodwill	574	556
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,187	1,147
Other non-current assets	63	58
Total	3,826	3,453
Short-term debt	138	108
Current maturities of long-term debt	65	66
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	772	700
Intercompany payables	64	62
Total current liabilities	1,039	936
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	176	162
Long-term intercompany debt	750	618
Postretirement and pension liabilities	20	10
Other non-current liabilities	171	168
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests	242	238
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	1,428	1,321
Total equity/(deficit)	1,670	1,559
Total	3,826	3,453
Crown European Holdings SA [Member] | Eliminations [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Receivables, net
Intercompany receivables	(89)	(85)
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Total current assets	(89)	(85)
Intercompany debt receivables	(5,526)	(5,431)
Investments	(3,011)	(2,645)
Goodwill
Property, plant and equipment, net
Other non-current assets
Total	(8,626)	(8,161)
Short-term debt
Current maturities of long-term debt
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Intercompany payables	(89)	(85)
Total current liabilities	(89)	(85)
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities
Long-term intercompany debt	(5,526)	(5,431)
Postretirement and pension liabilities
Other non-current liabilities
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	(3,011)	(2,645)
Total equity/(deficit)	(3,011)	(2,645)
Total	(8,626)	(8,161)
Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	250	342	409	463
Receivables, net	1,066	948
Inventories	1,313	1,148
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	195	165
Total current assets	2,824	2,603
Goodwill	1,998	1,952
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,796	1,751
Other non-current assets	560	562
Total	7,178	6,868
Short-term debt	164	128
Current maturities of long-term debt	66	67
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,863	2,090
Total current liabilities	2,093	2,285
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	3,685	3,337
Long-term intercompany debt
Postretirement and pension liabilities	994	996
Other non-current liabilities	488	489
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests	242	234
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	(324)	(473)
Total equity/(deficit)	(82)	(239)
Total	7,178	6,868
Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Receivables, net
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2
Total current assets	2
Intercompany debt receivables
Investments	359	215
Goodwill
Property, plant and equipment, net
Other non-current assets
Total	361	215
Short-term debt
Current maturities of long-term debt
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	7	20
Total current liabilities	7	20
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities
Long-term intercompany debt	678	668
Postretirement and pension liabilities
Other non-current liabilities
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	(324)	(473)
Total equity/(deficit)	(324)	(473)
Total	361	215
Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc [Member] | Issuer [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Receivables, net
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	76	76
Total current assets	76	76
Intercompany debt receivables
Investments	1,368	1,208
Goodwill
Property, plant and equipment, net
Other non-current assets	366	376
Total	1,810	1,660
Short-term debt
Current maturities of long-term debt
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	36	40
Total current liabilities	36	40
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	411	411
Long-term intercompany debt	736	723
Postretirement and pension liabilities
Other non-current liabilities	268	271
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	359	215
Total equity/(deficit)	359	215
Total	1,810	1,660
Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc [Member] | Non-Guarantors [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	250	342	409	463
Receivables, net	1,066	948
Inventories	1,313	1,148
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	117	89
Total current assets	2,746	2,527
Intercompany debt receivables	1,414	1,391
Investments
Goodwill	1,998	1,952
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,796	1,751
Other non-current assets	194	186
Total	8,148	7,807
Short-term debt	164	128
Current maturities of long-term debt	66	67
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,820	2,030
Total current liabilities	2,050	2,225
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	3,274	2,926
Long-term intercompany debt
Postretirement and pension liabilities	994	996
Other non-current liabilities	220	218
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests	242	234
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	1,368	1,208
Total equity/(deficit)	1,610	1,442
Total	8,148	7,807
Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc [Member] | Eliminations [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Receivables, net
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Intercompany debt receivables	(1,414)	(1,391)
Investments	(1,727)	(1,423)
Goodwill
Property, plant and equipment, net
Other non-current assets
Total	(3,141)	(2,814)
Short-term debt
Current maturities of long-term debt
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities
Long-term intercompany debt	(1,414)	(1,391)
Postretirement and pension liabilities
Other non-current liabilities
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	(1,727)	(1,423)
Total equity/(deficit)	(1,727)	(1,423)
Total	(3,141)	(2,814)
Crown Americas, LLC, Crown Americas Capital Corp. And Crown Americas Capital Corp. II [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	250	342	409	463
Receivables, net	1,066	948
Intercompany receivables
Inventories	1,313	1,148
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	195	165
Total current assets	2,824	2,603
Intercompany debt receivables
Investments
Goodwill	1,998	1,952
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,796	1,751
Other non-current assets	560	562
Total	7,178	6,868
Short-term debt	164	128
Current maturities of long-term debt	66	67
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,863	2,090
Intercompany payables
Total current liabilities	2,093	2,285
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	3,685	3,337
Long-term intercompany debt
Postretirement and pension liabilities	994	996
Other non-current liabilities	488	489
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests	242	234
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	(324)	(473)
Total equity/(deficit)	(82)	(239)
Total	7,178	6,868
Crown Americas, LLC, Crown Americas Capital Corp. And Crown Americas Capital Corp. II [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Receivables, net
Intercompany receivables
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2
Total current assets	2
Intercompany debt receivables
Investments	359	215
Goodwill
Property, plant and equipment, net
Other non-current assets
Total	361	215
Short-term debt
Current maturities of long-term debt
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	7	20
Intercompany payables
Total current liabilities	7	20
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities
Long-term intercompany debt	678	668
Postretirement and pension liabilities
Other non-current liabilities
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	(324)	(473)
Total equity/(deficit)	(324)	(473)
Total	361	215
Crown Americas, LLC, Crown Americas Capital Corp. And Crown Americas Capital Corp. II [Member] | Issuer [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	28	21	33	38
Receivables, net	1	1
Intercompany receivables
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2	2
Total current assets	31	24
Intercompany debt receivables	2,272	1,833
Investments	1,436	1,386
Goodwill
Property, plant and equipment, net	1	1
Other non-current assets	30	30
Total	3,770	3,274
Short-term debt
Current maturities of long-term debt
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	31	34
Intercompany payables
Total current liabilities	31	34
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	1,993	1,732
Long-term intercompany debt	1,147	956
Postretirement and pension liabilities
Other non-current liabilities
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	599	552
Total equity/(deficit)	599	552
Total	3,770	3,274
Crown Americas, LLC, Crown Americas Capital Corp. And Crown Americas Capital Corp. II [Member] | Guarantors [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	1	1		1
Receivables, net	7	37
Intercompany receivables	33	40
Inventories	331	285
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	89	58
Total current assets	461	421
Intercompany debt receivables	1,784	1,354
Investments	751	632
Goodwill	453	453
Property, plant and equipment, net	300	298
Other non-current assets	369	382
Total	4,118	3,540
Short-term debt
Current maturities of long-term debt	1	1
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	319	323
Intercompany payables	13	17
Total current liabilities	333	341
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	411	412
Long-term intercompany debt	2,177	1,726
Postretirement and pension liabilities	545	550
Other non-current liabilities	293	296
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	359	215
Total equity/(deficit)	359	215
Total	4,118	3,540
Crown Americas, LLC, Crown Americas Capital Corp. And Crown Americas Capital Corp. II [Member] | Non-Guarantors [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	221	320	376	424
Receivables, net	1,058	910
Intercompany receivables	13	17
Inventories	982	863
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	102	105
Total current assets	2,376	2,215
Intercompany debt receivables	345	525
Investments
Goodwill	1,545	1,499
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,495	1,452
Other non-current assets	161	150
Total	5,922	5,841
Short-term debt	164	128
Current maturities of long-term debt	65	66
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,506	1,713
Intercompany payables	33	40
Total current liabilities	1,768	1,947
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	1,281	1,193
Long-term intercompany debt	399	362
Postretirement and pension liabilities	449	446
Other non-current liabilities	195	193
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests	242	234
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	1,588	1,466
Total equity/(deficit)	1,830	1,700
Total	5,922	5,841
Crown Americas, LLC, Crown Americas Capital Corp. And Crown Americas Capital Corp. II [Member] | Eliminations [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Receivables, net
Intercompany receivables	(46)	(57)
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Total current assets	(46)	(57)
Intercompany debt receivables	(4,401)	(3,712)
Investments	(2,546)	(2,233)
Goodwill
Property, plant and equipment, net
Other non-current assets
Total	(6,993)	(6,002)
Short-term debt
Current maturities of long-term debt
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Intercompany payables	(46)	(57)
Total current liabilities	(46)	(57)
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities
Long-term intercompany debt	(4,401)	(3,712)
Postretirement and pension liabilities
Other non-current liabilities
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	(2,546)	(2,233)
Total equity/(deficit)	(2,546)	(2,233)
Total	$ (6,993)	$ (6,002)