Note 19 - Reportable Segments (Details) - Reconciliation of Reportable Segment Net Income to Consolidated Net Income (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss)	$ 501	[1]	$ 472	[1],[2]	$ 935	[1]	$ 970	[1],[2]
Net financing costs (1)	(28)	[3]	(44)	[3]	(62)	[3]	(84)	[3]
Stock-based compensation expense	(14)		(16)		(25)		(40)
Exploratory research	(27)		(24)		(51)		(47)
Corporate contributions	(12)		(10)		(25)		(23)
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies, net of impairments (2)	49	[4]	64	[4]	83	[4]	99	[4]
Asbestos settlement (3)	(6)	[5]	(5)	[5]	(8)	[5]	(6)	[5]
Purchased collars and average rate forward contracts (6)	227	[6]			251	[6]
Other corporate items (4)(5)	(52)	[2],[7]	37	[2],[7]	34	[2],[7]	79	[2],[7]
Net income (4)	638	[2]	474	[2]	1,132	[2]	948	[2]
Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss)	532	[2]	488	[2]	994	[2]	1,006	[2]
Non Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss)	$ (31)		$ (16)		$ (59)		$ (36)

[1] Many of Corning's administrative and staff functions are performed on a centralized basis. Where practicable, Corning charges these expenses to segments based upon the extent to which each business uses a centralized function. Other staff functions, such as corporate finance, human resources and legal, are allocated to segments, primarily as a percentage of sales.

[2] 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.

[3] Net financing costs include interest income, interest expense, and interest costs and investment gains associated with benefit plans.

[4] Primarily represents the equity earnings of Dow Corning Corporation, which includes a $9 million and $11 million restructuring charge for our share of costs for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013.

[5] 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.

[6] 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.

[7] For the six months ended June 30, 2013, Corning recorded a $54 million tax benefit for the impact of the American Taxpayer Relief Act enacted on January 3, 2013 and made retroactive to 2012.