Note 6 - Income Taxes (Details) - Reconciliation of the U.S. Statutory Income Tax Rate To Effective Tax Rate		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Reconciliation of the U.S. Statutory Income Tax Rate To Effective Tax Rate [Abstract]
Statutory U.S. income tax rate		35.00%		35.00%		35.00%
State income tax (benefit), net of federal effect		0.10%		4.90%	[1]	0.60%
Tax holidays (1)	[2]	(0.50%)		(0.40%)		(1.20%)
Investment and other tax credits (2)	[3]	(1.70%)		(0.30%)		(2.00%)
Rate difference on foreign earnings		(19.80%)	[4]	(8.30%)		(8.10%)	[5]
Uncertain tax positions		4.30%	[6]	(0.10%)		0.20%
Equity earnings impact (3)	[7]	(5.40%)		(2.00%)		(6.60%)
Valuation allowances		(4.20%)	[8]	0.80%	[9]	3.10%	[10]
Other items, net		2.10%		1.10%	[11]	(0.30%)
Effective income tax (benefit) rate		9.90%		30.70%		20.70%

[1] Includes $100 million tax expense related to the write-off of New York State tax attributes for a state law change that were offset with full valuation allowance.

[2] Primarily related to a subsidiary in Taiwan operating under tax holiday arrangements. The nature and extent of such arrangements vary, and the benefits of existing arrangements phase out in future years (through 2018). The impact of tax holidays on net income per share on a diluted basis was $0.01 in 2015, $0.01 in 2014 and $0.02 in 2013.

[3] Primarily related to research and development and other credits in the U.S.

[4] Tax benefit is primarily for excess foreign tax credits resulting from the inclusion of high-taxed foreign earnings in U.S. income and the income of Taiwan and Korea subsidiaries with lower statutory rates than the U.S. The amount of tax benefit in 2015 is relatively consistent with 2014. The change in the effective tax rate reconciliation percentage is driven by the significant decrease in the gain on our foreign currency translation hedges in 2015 versus 2014.

[5] In 2013, $74 million of tax benefit increase was due to $37 million expense recorded in 2012 that was reversed in the first quarter of 2013 as a result of the retroactive application of the American Taxpayer Relief Act enacted on January 3, 2013. In 2013, the additional increase in the benefit was attributable to excess foreign tax credits realized in U.S. from a taxable intercompany loan.

[6] Unrecognized tax benefit reserve was primarily for tax positions taken related to transfer pricing of which $31 million tax expense is related to out of period adjustments. The impact of these corrections is not material to any individual period previously presented. Since the Company operates in a number of countries with income tax treaties, an offsetting benefit was recorded where it believes it is more-likely-than-not toreceive competent authority relief.

[7] Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates reported in the financials net of tax. The difference between 2013-2014 was due to the change of Samsung Corning Precision Materials from an equity company to a consolidated entity.

[8] $100 million tax benefit primarily related to change in judgment on the realizability of Germany and Japan deferred tax assets is partially offset with tax expense from U.S. state and China deferred tax allowance increases.

[9] $177 million tax expense related to change in judgment on the realizability of Germany and Japan deferred tax assets is partially offset with benefit from state deferred tax asset valuation allowance reductions, including the valuation allowance relating to the New York State attribute reduction discussed in (9) below.

[10] Primarily related to change in judgment on the realizability of Australia and certain state deferred tax assets.

[11] Includes in 2014, $9 million benefit for domestic manufacturing deduction and $46 million of tax expense related to out of period transfer pricing adjustments. The impact of these corrections is not material to any individual period previously presented.