Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,037	[1]	$ 2,302	[2]	$ 2,184	[3]	$ 1,947		$ 2,058	[4]	$ 2,423	[5]	$ 2,281	[6]	$ 1,882	[7]	$ 8,470	$ 8,644	$ 7,941
Cost of products sold, excluding depreciation and amortization																	7,013	7,120	6,519
Depreciation and amortization																	180	176	172
Gross profit	281	[1],[8]	369	[2],[8]	340	[3],[8]	287	[8]	289	[4],[8]	396	[5],[8]	371	[6],[8]	292	[7],[8]	1,277	1,348	1,250
Selling and administrative expense																	382	395	360
Provision for asbestos																	35	28	46
Provision for restructuring	38		7		3				50		2				25		48	77	42
Asset impairments and sales	(18)		(14)		(10)				(8)		(2)						(42)	6	(18)
Loss from early extinguishments of debt													(2)		(30)		0	32	16
Interest expense																	226	232	203
Interest income																	(7)	(11)	(9)
Translation and foreign exchange																	(1)	2	(4)
Income before income taxes and equity earnings																	636	587	614
Provision for / (benefit from) income taxes																	(17)	194	165
Equity earnings in affiliates																	5	3	3
Net income																	658	396	452
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests																	(101)	(114)	(128)
Net income attributable to Crown Holdings	$ 29	[1]	$ 325	[2]	$ 134	[3]	$ 69		$ 8	[4]	$ 129	[5]	$ 129	[6]	$ 16	[7]	$ 557	$ 282	$ 324
Earnings per common share attributable to Crown Holdings:
Basic	$ 0.20	[1]	$ 2.23	[2]	$ 0.91	[3]	$ 0.47		$ 0.05	[4]	$ 0.86	[5]	$ 0.85	[6]	$ 0.10	[7]	$ 3.81	$ 1.86	$ 2.03
Diluted	$ 0.20	[1]	$ 2.20	[2]	$ 0.89	[3]	$ 0.46		$ 0.05	[4]	$ 0.84	[5]	$ 0.83	[6]	$ 0.10	[7]	$ 3.75	$ 1.83	$ 2.00

[1] Includes pre-tax charges of $35 for asbestos claims and $38 for restructuring actions, pre-tax gain of $18 for asset impairments and sales and an income tax charge of $4 for tax law changes.

[2] Includes pre-tax charge of $7 for restructuring, pre-tax gain of $14 for asset impairments and sales and a net income tax benefit of $169 primarily related to the recognition of U.S. foreign tax credits.

[3] Includes pre-tax charge of $3 for restructuring and pre-tax gain of $10 for asset impairments and sales.

[4] Includes pre-tax charges of $28 for asbestos claims,$50 for restructuring actions,$8 for asset impairments and sales and $5 for tax charges in connection with the relocation of the Company’s European Division headquarters.

[5] Includes pre-tax charges of $2 for restructuring actions, $25 for tax charges in connection with a tax law change in France and pre-tax gains of $2 for asset impairments and sales.

[6] Includes pre-tax charge of $2 for loss on early extinguishment of debt.

[7] Includes pre-tax charges of $25 for restructuring actions, $30 for losses on early extinguishments of debt and $17 for tax charges in connection with relocation of the Company’s European Division headquarters..

[8] The Company defines gross profit as net sales less cost of products sold and depreciation and amortization.