Contingencies - Changes in Carrying Value of Recorded Environmental Remediation Reserves (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2023
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Beginning balance			$ 268	$ 284	$ 284
Environmental Loss Contingency, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible Enumeration]					Environmental remediation (O)
Liabilities incurred		$ 4	1	18	$ 39
Cash payments	$ (10)	$ (16)	(16)	(23)	(55)
Reversals of previously recorded liabilities				$ 1	(1)
Foreign currency translation and other			(1)		1
Ending balance	$ 252		$ 252		$ 268

Accrual for environmental loss contingencies foreign currency translation gain (loss) and other.

No definition available.

Name:	aa_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLossAndOther
Namespace Prefix:	aa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total costs accrued as of the balance sheet date for environmental loss contingencies.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483076/450-20-50-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/recommendedDisclosureRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (d)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481931/410-30-50-10

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/recommendedDisclosureRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (d)(3)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481931/410-30-50-10

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 16
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481899/410-30-55-16

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.Y.Q1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480102/450-20-S99-1

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481931/410-30-50-7

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of expense for newly incurred environmental loss contingencies. Includes, but is not limited to, remediation expense and interest accretion.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesChargesToExpenseForNewLosses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of expense (reversal of expense) which increases (decreases) the accrual for environmental loss contingencies from revisions in estimates to existing obligations. Excludes changes related to business acquisitions, divestitures, or currency movement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesIncreaseDecreaseForRevisionInEstimates
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash outflow to settle environmental loss contingencies.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.Y.Q1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480102/450-20-S99-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 17
-Subparagraph (f)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482740/230-10-45-17

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesPayments1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Indicates line item in statement of financial position that includes accrual for environmental loss contingency.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.Y.Q4)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480102/450-20-S99-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 16
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481899/410-30-55-16

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EnvironmentalLossContingencyStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleEnumeration
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	enum2:enumerationSetItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant