Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - Changes to Financial Statement Line Items as a Result of Accounting Methodology Change (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cost of sales	$ 1,099		$ 1,100		$ 2,143		$ 2,196
Gross margin	883		808		1,653		1,632
Selling, general and administrative expenses	266		286		525		559
Research, development and engineering expenses	179		185		357		369
Operating income	424		328		748		689
Income before income taxes	829		574		1,357		1,166
Provision for income taxes	(191)		(100)		(225)		(218)
Net income attributable to Corning Incorporated	638	[1]	474	[1]	1,132	[1]	948	[1]
Earnings per common share attributable to Corning Incorporated – Basic (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.43		$ 0.31		$ 0.77		$ 0.63
Earnings per common share attributable to Corning Incorporated – Diluted (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.43		$ 0.31		$ 0.76		$ 0.62
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(256)	[2]	13	[2]	(744)	[2]	(48)	[2]
Comprehensive income attributable to Corning Incorporated	382		487		388		900
Retained earnings	10,754				10,754						9,932
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(388)	[2]	428	[2]	(388)	[2]	428	[2]	(132)	[2]	356	[2]	415	[2]	476	[2]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Deferred tax provision					119		35
Employee benefit payments					26		(71)
Previous Accounting Method [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cost of sales	1,112		1,111		2,169		2,217
Gross margin	870		797		1,627		1,611
Selling, general and administrative expenses	273		291		539		570
Research, development and engineering expenses	183		188		365		375
Operating income	400		309		700		651
Income before income taxes	805		555		1,309		1,128
Provision for income taxes	(182)		(93)		(208)		(204)
Net income attributable to Corning Incorporated	623		462		1,101		924
Earnings per common share attributable to Corning Incorporated – Basic (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.42		$ 0.31		$ 0.75		$ 0.61
Earnings per common share attributable to Corning Incorporated – Diluted (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.42		$ 0.30		$ 0.74		$ 0.61
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(241)		4		(716)		(47)
Comprehensive income attributable to Corning Incorporated	382		466		385		877
Retained earnings	11,382				11,382						10,588
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(1,016)				(1,016)						(300)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Deferred tax provision					102		21
Employee benefit payments					74		(33)
Effect of Accounting Change [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cost of sales	(13)		(11)		(26)		(21)
Gross margin	13		11		26		21
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(7)		(5)		(14)		(11)
Research, development and engineering expenses	(4)		(3)		(8)		(6)
Operating income	24		19		48		38
Income before income taxes	24		19		48		38
Provision for income taxes	(9)		(7)		(17)		(14)
Net income attributable to Corning Incorporated	15		12		31		24
Earnings per common share attributable to Corning Incorporated – Basic (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.01				$ 0.02		$ 0.02
Earnings per common share attributable to Corning Incorporated – Diluted (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.01		$ 0.01		$ 0.02		$ 0.01
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(15)		9		(28)		(1)
Comprehensive income attributable to Corning Incorporated	0		21		3		23
Retained earnings	(628)				(628)						(656)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	628				628						656
Cash flows from operating activities:
Deferred tax provision					17		14
Employee benefit payments					$ (48)		$ (38)

[1] As revised for the change in our method of recognizing pension expense. See Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of the change and the impacts of the change for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012.

[2] All amounts are after tax. Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to accumulated other comprehensive income.