Note 10 - Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Details) - Carrying Amount of Goodwill by Segment - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance		$ 1,150		$ 1,002
Acquired goodwill		307	[1]	122	[2]
Measurement period adjustment		(7)		60	[3]
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(41)		(34)
Other (4)	[4]	(29)
Balance		1,380		1,150
Optical Communications [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance		238		240
Acquired goodwill	[1]	220
Measurement period adjustment		(7)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(12)		(2)
Balance		439		238
Display Technologies [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance		134		9
Acquired goodwill	[2]			68
Measurement period adjustment	[3]			60
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(6)		(3)
Balance		128		134
Specialty Materials [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance		198		150
Acquired goodwill	[2]			54
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(4)		(6)
Other (4)	[4]	(44)
Balance		150		198
Life Sciences [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Balance		580		603
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(18)		(23)
Balance		562		$ 580
Other Segments [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Acquired goodwill	[1]	87
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(1)
Other (4)	[4]	15
Balance		$ 101

[1] The Company completed four acquisitions in the Optical Communications segment during the first quarter of 2015 and one acquisition that is being reported in All Other in the fourth quarter of 2015. Refer to Note 8 (Acquisitions) to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on these acquisitions.

[2] The Company recorded the acquisition of Samsung Corning Precision Materials and a small acquisition in the Specialty Materials segment in the first quarter of 2014. Refer to Note 8 (Acquisitions) to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the acquisition of Samsung Corning Precision Materials.

[3] In the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recorded measurement period adjustments of $60 million for the Acquisition of Samsung Corning Precision Materials primarily related to the accrual of contingent liabilities and employee benefit obligations.

[4] In the fourth quarter of 2015, Corning made a change to the internal reporting structure related to a small acquisition in 2014 originally recorded in the Specialty Materials segment, which is now being reported in All Other. Additionally, a charge of $29 million for the impairment of goodwill related to this acquisition was recorded in the fourth quarter.