Note 19 - Reportable Segments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2013 Specialty Materials [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Specialty Materials [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Specialty Materials [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Telecommunications [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Telecommunications [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Telecommunications [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Display Technologies [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Display Technologies [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Environmental Technologies [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Environmental Technologies [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Life Sciences [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Life Sciences [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Dow Corning Corporation [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Dow Corning Corporation [Member]
Note 19 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges (in Dollars)					$ (1,000,000)																$ 9,000,000	$ 11,000,000
(in Dollars)	6,000,000	[1]	5,000,000	[1]	8,000,000	[1]	6,000,000	[1]
Tax Adjustments, Settlements, and Unusual Provisions (in Dollars)					54,000,000
Purchased Collar Options (in Dollars)	227,000,000	[2]			251,000,000	[2]
Assets, Net (in Dollars)									$ 1,400,000,000	$ 1,400,000,000	$ 1,700,000,000	$ 1,600,000,000	$ 1,600,000,000	$ 1,400,000,000
Number of Customers Individually Accounting for 10% or More of Each Segment's Sales									2	2		1	1		4	4	3	3	2	2
Percent of Total Segment Sales									31.00%	35.00%		11.00%	11.00%		95.00%	93.00%	88.00%	86.00%	42.00%	42.00%

[1] In the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, Corning recorded a charge of $6 million and $8 million, respectively, to adjust the asbestos liability for the change in value of components of the Amended PCC Plan. In the three and six month ended June 30, 2012, Corning recorded a charge of $5 million and $6 million, respectively, to adjust the asbestos liability for the change in value of components of the Amended PCC Plan.

[2] For the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, Corning recorded a net gain of $227 million and $251 million, respectively, related to its purchased collars and average rate forward contracts.