Note 7 - Investments (Details) - Results of Operations - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Note 7 - Investments (Details) - Results of Operations [Line Items]
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies		$ 104	$ 39	$ 62	$ 94	$ 23	$ 95	$ 62	$ 86	$ 299	$ 266	$ 547
Dividends received										143	1,704	630
Affiliated Companies [Member]
Note 7 - Investments (Details) - Results of Operations [Line Items]
Net sales	[1],[2]									6,461	7,124	8,526
Gross profit	[1],[2]									1,606	1,701	2,655
Net income	[1],[2]									586	647	1,135
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	[1],[2]									299	266	547
Corning sales to affiliated companies										30	13	13
Corning purchases										19	25	189
Corning transfers of assets, at cost, to affiliated companies (3)	[3]											37
Dividends received										143	130	629
Royalty income from affiliated companies											2	57
Corning services to affiliates												2
Dow Corning Corporation [Member]
Note 7 - Investments (Details) - Results of Operations [Line Items]
Net sales										5,649	6,221	5,711
Gross profit	[1]									1,472	1,543	1,280
Net income										563	513	376
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies										281	252	196
Corning purchases										15	15	22
Dividends received										$ 143	$ 125	$ 100

[1] 2013 amounts include Samsung Corning Precision Materials.

[2] As a result of the series of strategic and financial agreements with Samsung Display entered into on October 22, 2013, certain non-operating assets of Samsung Corning Precision Materials were held for sale as of December 31, 2013 and are reported as discontinued operations in Samsung Corning Precision Materials financial statements, which are attached in Item 15, Exhibits and Financial Schedules. Previous period amounts have been conformed for comparative purposes.

[3] In 2013, Corning purchased machinery and equipment on behalf of Samsung Corning Precision Materials to support its capital expansion initiative.