Note 17 - Reportable Segments (Details) - Reportable Segments - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 2,047	$ 2,265
Depreciation		281	279
Amortization of purchased intangibles		14	12
Research, development and engineering expenses		190	189
Restructuring, impairment & other charges		80
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies		59	94
Income tax (provision) benefit		304	(86)
Net income (loss)		(368)	407
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		2,047	2,265
Depreciation	[1]	278	273
Amortization of purchased intangibles		14	11
Research, development and engineering expenses	[2]	164	161
Restructuring, impairment & other charges		72	(1)
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies		3
Income tax (provision) benefit		(95)	(190)
Net income (loss)	[3]	213	405
Display Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring, impairment & other charges		4
Display Technologies [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		705	808
Depreciation	[1]	151	156
Research, development and engineering expenses	[2]	18	24
Restructuring, impairment & other charges		4
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies			(2)
Income tax (provision) benefit		(93)	(132)
Net income (loss)	[3]	209	294
Optical Communications [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring, impairment & other charges		6
Optical Communications [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		609	697
Depreciation	[1]	41	38
Amortization of purchased intangibles		7	6
Research, development and engineering expenses	[2]	37	33
Restructuring, impairment & other charges		6	(1)
Income tax (provision) benefit		(11)	(29)
Net income (loss)	[3]	17	57
Environmental Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring, impairment & other charges		5
Environmental Technologies [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		264	282
Depreciation	[1]	32	29
Research, development and engineering expenses	[2]	25	23
Restructuring, impairment & other charges		5
Income tax (provision) benefit		(16)	(23)
Net income (loss)	[3]	34	48
Specialty Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring, impairment & other charges		12
Specialty Materials [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		227	272
Depreciation	[1]	28	26
Research, development and engineering expenses	[2]	31	31
Restructuring, impairment & other charges		12
Income tax (provision) benefit		(12)	(21)
Net income (loss)	[3]	26	38
Life Sciences [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring, impairment & other charges		3
Life Sciences [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		204	197
Depreciation	[1]	15	15
Amortization of purchased intangibles		5	5
Research, development and engineering expenses	[2]	6	5
Restructuring, impairment & other charges		3
Income tax (provision) benefit		(6)	(8)
Net income (loss)	[3]	12	16
Other Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring, impairment & other charges		42
Other Segments [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		38	9
Depreciation	[1]	11	9
Amortization of purchased intangibles		2
Research, development and engineering expenses	[2]	47	45
Restructuring, impairment & other charges		42
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies		3	2
Income tax (provision) benefit		43	23
Net income (loss)	[3]	$ (85)	$ (48)

[1] Depreciation expense for Corning's reportable segments includes an allocation of depreciation of corporate property not specifically identifiable to a segment.

[2] Research, development and engineering expenses include direct project spending that is identifiable to a segment.

[3] 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.