Condensed Combining Financial Information (Condensed Combining Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 240	$ 342	$ 479	$ 463
Receivables, net	1,397	948
Inventories	1,207	1,148
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	209	165
Total current assets	3,053	2,603
Goodwill	1,976	1,952
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,845	1,751
Other non-current assets	736	562
Total	7,610	6,868
Short-term debt	297	128
Current maturities of long-term debt	104	67
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,975	2,090
Total current liabilities	2,376	2,285
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	3,596	3,337
Postretirement and pension liabilities	917	996
Other non-current liabilities	494	489
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests	252	234
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	(25)	(473)
Total equity/(deficit)	227	(239)	180	229
Total	7,610	6,868
Crown European Holdings SA [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	240	342	479	463
Receivables, net	1,397	948
Inventories	1,207	1,148
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	209	165
Total current assets	3,053	2,603
Goodwill	1,976	1,952
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,845	1,751
Other non-current assets	736	562
Total	7,610	6,868
Short-term debt	297	128
Current maturities of long-term debt	104	67
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,975	2,090
Total current liabilities	2,376	2,285
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	3,596	3,337
Postretirement and pension liabilities	917	996
Other non-current liabilities	494	489
Noncontrolling interests	252	234
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	(25)	(473)
Total equity/(deficit)	227	(239)
Total	7,610	6,868
Crown European Holdings SA [Member] | Parent [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Receivables, net
Intercompany receivables
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1
Total current assets	1
Intercompany debt receivables
Investments	848	215
Goodwill
Property, plant and equipment, net
Other non-current assets
Total	849	215
Short-term debt
Current maturities of long-term debt
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	17	20
Intercompany payables
Total current liabilities	17	20
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities
Long-term intercompany debt	857	668
Postretirement and pension liabilities
Other non-current liabilities
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	(25)	(473)
Total equity/(deficit)	(25)	(473)
Total	849	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	6	7
Total current assets	8	9
Intercompany debt receivables	1,818	1,590
Investments	3,221	3,007
Goodwill
Property, plant and equipment, net
Other non-current assets	25	13
Total	5,072	4,619
Short-term debt	13	6
Current maturities of long-term debt	18
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	9	20
Intercompany payables		1
Total current liabilities	40	27
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	977	1,002
Long-term intercompany debt	2,721	2,481
Postretirement and pension liabilities
Other non-current liabilities	14
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	1,320	1,109
Total equity/(deficit)	1,320	1,109
Total	5,072	4,619
Crown European Holdings SA [Member] | Guarantors [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	54	54	56	65
Receivables, net	409	230
Intercompany receivables	68	60
Inventories	641	615
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	133	129
Total current assets	1,305	1,088
Intercompany debt receivables	3,983	3,514
Investments	(406)	(577)
Goodwill	1,420	1,396
Property, plant and equipment, net	592	604
Other non-current assets	627	491
Total	7,521	6,516
Short-term debt	8	14
Current maturities of long-term debt	28	1
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,087	1,124
Intercompany payables	32	22
Total current liabilities	1,155	1,161
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	2,449	2,173
Long-term intercompany debt	1,863	1,664
Postretirement and pension liabilities	899	986
Other non-current liabilities	307	321
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests		(4)
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	848	215
Total equity/(deficit)	848	211
Total	7,521	6,516
Crown European Holdings SA [Member] | Non-Guarantors [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	186	288	423	398
Receivables, net	988	718
Intercompany receivables	32	23
Inventories	566	533
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	69	29
Total current assets	1,841	1,591
Intercompany debt receivables	482	327
Investments
Goodwill	556	556
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,253	1,147
Other non-current assets	84	58
Total	4,216	3,679
Short-term debt	276	108
Current maturities of long-term debt	58	66
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	862	926
Intercompany payables	70	62
Total current liabilities	1,266	1,162
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	170	162
Long-term intercompany debt	842	618
Postretirement and pension liabilities	18	10
Other non-current liabilities	173	168
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests	252	238
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	1,495	1,321
Total equity/(deficit)	1,747	1,559
Total	4,216	3,679
Crown European Holdings SA [Member] | Eliminations [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Receivables, net
Intercompany receivables	(102)	(85)
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Total current assets	(102)	(85)
Intercompany debt receivables	(6,283)	(5,431)
Investments	(3,663)	(2,645)
Goodwill
Property, plant and equipment, net
Other non-current assets
Total	(10,048)	(8,161)
Short-term debt
Current maturities of long-term debt
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Intercompany payables	(102)	(85)
Total current liabilities	(102)	(85)
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities
Long-term intercompany debt	(6,283)	(5,431)
Postretirement and pension liabilities
Other non-current liabilities
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	(3,663)	(2,645)
Total equity/(deficit)	(3,663)	(2,645)
Total	(10,048)	(8,161)
Crown Cork Seal Company Inc [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	240	342	479	463
Receivables, net	1,397	948
Inventories	1,207	1,148
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	209	165
Total current assets	3,053	2,603
Goodwill	1,976	1,952
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,845	1,751
Other non-current assets	736	562
Total	7,610	6,868
Short-term debt	297	128
Current maturities of long-term debt	104	67
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,975	2,090
Total current liabilities	2,376	2,285
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	3,596	3,337
Long-term intercompany debt
Postretirement and pension liabilities	917	996
Other non-current liabilities	494	489
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests	252	234
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	(25)	(473)
Total equity/(deficit)	227	(239)
Total	7,610	6,868
Crown Cork Seal Company Inc [Member] | Parent [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Receivables, net
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1
Total current assets	1
Intercompany debt receivables
Investments	848	215
Goodwill
Property, plant and equipment, net
Other non-current assets
Total	849	215
Short-term debt
Current maturities of long-term debt
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	17	20
Total current liabilities	17	20
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities
Long-term intercompany debt	857	668
Postretirement and pension liabilities
Other non-current liabilities
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	(25)	(473)
Total equity/(deficit)	(25)	(473)
Total	849	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	1,753	1,208
Goodwill
Property, plant and equipment, net
Other non-current assets	551	376
Total	2,380	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	823	723
Postretirement and pension liabilities
Other non-current liabilities	262	271
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	848	215
Total equity/(deficit)	848	215
Total	2,380	1,660
Crown Cork Seal Company Inc [Member] | Non-Guarantors [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	240	342	479	463
Receivables, net	1,397	948
Inventories	1,207	1,148
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	132	89
Total current assets	2,976	2,527
Intercompany debt receivables	1,680	1,391
Investments
Goodwill	1,976	1,952
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,845	1,751
Other non-current assets	185	186
Total	8,662	7,807
Short-term debt	297	128
Current maturities of long-term debt	104	67
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,922	2,030
Total current liabilities	2,323	2,225
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	3,185	2,926
Long-term intercompany debt
Postretirement and pension liabilities	917	996
Other non-current liabilities	232	218
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests	252	234
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	1,753	1,208
Total equity/(deficit)	2,005	1,442
Total	8,662	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	(1,680)	(1,391)
Investments	(2,601)	(1,423)
Goodwill
Property, plant and equipment, net
Other non-current assets
Total	(4,281)	(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	(1,680)	(1,391)
Postretirement and pension liabilities
Other non-current liabilities
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	(2,601)	(1,423)
Total equity/(deficit)	(2,601)	(1,423)
Total	(4,281)	(2,814)
Crown Americas, LLC, Crown Americas Capital Corp. And Crown Americas Capital Corp. II [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	240	342	479	463
Receivables, net	1,397	948
Intercompany receivables
Inventories	1,207	1,148
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	209	165
Total current assets	3,053	2,603
Intercompany debt receivables
Investments
Goodwill	1,976	1,952
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,845	1,751
Other non-current assets	736	562
Total	7,610	6,868
Short-term debt	297	128
Current maturities of long-term debt	104	67
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,975	2,090
Intercompany payables
Total current liabilities	2,376	2,285
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	3,596	3,337
Long-term intercompany debt
Postretirement and pension liabilities	917	996
Other non-current liabilities	494	489
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests	252	234
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	(25)	(473)
Total equity/(deficit)	227	(239)
Total	7,610	6,868
Crown Americas, LLC, Crown Americas Capital Corp. And Crown Americas Capital Corp. II [Member] | Parent [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents
Receivables, net
Intercompany receivables
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1
Total current assets	1
Intercompany debt receivables
Investments	848	215
Goodwill
Property, plant and equipment, net
Other non-current assets
Total	849	215
Short-term debt
Current maturities of long-term debt
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	17	20
Intercompany payables
Total current liabilities	17	20
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities
Long-term intercompany debt	857	668
Postretirement and pension liabilities
Other non-current liabilities
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	(25)	(473)
Total equity/(deficit)	(25)	(473)
Total	849	215
Crown Americas, LLC, Crown Americas Capital Corp. And Crown Americas Capital Corp. II [Member] | Issuer [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents	18	21	31	38
Receivables, net	1	1
Intercompany receivables
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2	2
Total current assets	21	24
Intercompany debt receivables	1,925	1,833
Investments	1,697	1,386
Goodwill
Property, plant and equipment, net	1	1
Other non-current assets	27	30
Total	3,671	3,274
Short-term debt
Current maturities of long-term debt	28
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	30	34
Intercompany payables
Total current liabilities	58	34
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	1,991	1,732
Long-term intercompany debt	778	956
Postretirement and pension liabilities
Other non-current liabilities
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	844	552
Total equity/(deficit)	844	552
Total	3,671	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	1
Receivables, net	11	37
Intercompany receivables	23	40
Inventories	279	285
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	86	58
Total current assets	400	421
Intercompany debt receivables	1,734	1,354
Investments	911	632
Goodwill	453	453
Property, plant and equipment, net	297	298
Other non-current assets	483	382
Total	4,278	3,540
Short-term debt
Current maturities of long-term debt		1
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	323	323
Intercompany payables	15	17
Total current liabilities	338	341
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	412	412
Long-term intercompany debt	1,905	1,726
Postretirement and pension liabilities	481	550
Other non-current liabilities	294	296
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	848	215
Total equity/(deficit)	848	215
Total	4,278	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	447	424
Receivables, net	1,385	910
Intercompany receivables	15	17
Inventories	928	863
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	120	105
Total current assets	2,669	2,215
Intercompany debt receivables	316	525
Investments
Goodwill	1,523	1,499
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,547	1,452
Other non-current assets	226	150
Total	6,281	5,841
Short-term debt	297	128
Current maturities of long-term debt	76	66
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,605	1,713
Intercompany payables	23	40
Total current liabilities	2,001	1,947
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	1,193	1,193
Long-term intercompany debt	435	362
Postretirement and pension liabilities	436	446
Other non-current liabilities	200	193
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests	252	234
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	1,764	1,466
Total equity/(deficit)	2,016	1,700
Total	6,281	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	(38)	(57)
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Total current assets	(38)	(57)
Intercompany debt receivables	(3,975)	(3,712)
Investments	(3,456)	(2,233)
Goodwill
Property, plant and equipment, net
Other non-current assets
Total	(7,469)	(6,002)
Short-term debt
Current maturities of long-term debt
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Intercompany payables	(38)	(57)
Total current liabilities	(38)	(57)
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities
Long-term intercompany debt	(3,975)	(3,712)
Postretirement and pension liabilities
Other non-current liabilities
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Noncontrolling interests
Crown Holdings shareholders' equity/(deficit)	(3,456)	(2,233)
Total equity/(deficit)	(3,456)	(2,233)
Total	$ (7,469)	$ (6,002)