Condensed Consolidating Guarantor Information Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Product revenue	$ 701	$ 712	$ 2,111	$ 1,988
Service revenue	807	723	2,342	2,100
Revenues	1,508	1,435	4,453	4,088
Cost of products	524	534	1,577	1,511
Cost of services	569	519	1,666	1,506
Selling, general and administrative expenses	217	206	678	592
Research and development expenses	53	47	163	142
Total operating expenses	1,363	1,306	4,084	3,751
Income (loss) from operations	145	129	369	337
Interest Expense	23	7	70	24
Other (expense), net	(3)	0	(4)	(7)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	119	122	295	306
Income tax expense (benefit)	19	33	44	68
Income (loss) from continuing operations before earning in subsidiaries	100	89	251	238
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations	100	89	251	238
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(1)	(1)	3
Net income (loss)	100	88	250	241
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2	1	5	2
Net income (loss) attributable to NCR	98	87	245	239
Total comprehensive income (loss)	88	95	210	230
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	1	1	1	1
Comprehensive income attributable to NCR common stockholders	87	94	209	229
Parent Company [Member]
Product revenue	218	243	667	718
Service revenue	245	255	727	732
Revenues	463	498	1,394	1,450
Cost of products	178	192	541	561
Cost of services	191	209	576	563
Selling, general and administrative expenses	90	89	292	274
Research and development expenses	22	27	45	44
Total operating expenses	481	517	1,454	1,442
Income (loss) from operations	(18)	(19)	(60)	8
Interest Expense	24	8	71	27
Other (expense), net	(6)	(76)	(4)	(78)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	(48)	(103)	(135)	(97)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(16)	(22)	(52)	(30)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before earning in subsidiaries	(32)	(81)	(83)	(67)
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	130	169	329	305
Income (loss) from continuing operations	98	88	246	238
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(1)	(1)	1
Net income (loss)	98	87	245	239
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to NCR	98	87	245	239
Total comprehensive income (loss)	87	94	209	229
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to NCR common stockholders	87	94	209	229
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Product revenue	74	61	213	177
Service revenue	78	58	208	164
Revenues	152	119	421	341
Cost of products	31	23	91	74
Cost of services	29	24	80	68
Selling, general and administrative expenses	26	28	86	77
Research and development expenses	6	5	16	17
Total operating expenses	92	80	273	236
Income (loss) from operations	60	39	148	105
Interest Expense	2	4	8	13
Other (expense), net	(4)	(5)	(11)	(6)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	54	30	129	86
Income tax expense (benefit)	22	17	44	46
Income (loss) from continuing operations before earning in subsidiaries	32	13	85	40
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	93	99	225	207
Income (loss) from continuing operations	125	112	310	247
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	125	112	310	247
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to NCR	125	112	310	247
Total comprehensive income (loss)	75	147	265	287
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to NCR common stockholders	75	147	265	287
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Product revenue	482	488	1,421	1,293
Service revenue	484	410	1,407	1,204
Revenues	966	898	2,828	2,497
Cost of products	388	399	1,135	1,076
Cost of services	349	286	1,010	875
Selling, general and administrative expenses	101	89	300	241
Research and development expenses	25	15	102	81
Total operating expenses	863	789	2,547	2,273
Income (loss) from operations	103	109	281	224
Interest Expense	1	1	2	3
Other (expense), net	11	87	22	96
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	113	195	301	317
Income tax expense (benefit)	13	38	52	52
Income (loss) from continuing operations before earning in subsidiaries	100	157	249	265
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations	100	157	249	265
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	2
Net income (loss)	100	157	249	267
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2	1	5	2
Net income (loss) attributable to NCR	98	156	244	265
Total comprehensive income (loss)	98	172	180	252
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	1	1	1	1
Comprehensive income attributable to NCR common stockholders	97	171	179	251
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Product revenue	(73)	(80)	(190)	(200)
Service revenue	0	0	0	0
Revenues	(73)	(80)	(190)	(200)
Cost of products	(73)	(80)	(190)	(200)
Cost of services	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Research and development expenses	0	0	0	0
Total operating expenses	(73)	(80)	(190)	(200)
Income (loss) from operations	0	0	0	0
Interest Expense	(4)	(6)	(11)	(19)
Other (expense), net	(4)	(6)	(11)	(19)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	0	0	0	0
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before earning in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings of consolidated subsidiaries	(223)	(268)	(554)	(512)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(223)	(268)	(554)	(512)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(223)	(268)	(554)	(512)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to NCR	(223)	(268)	(554)	(512)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(172)	(318)	(444)	(538)
Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to NCR common stockholders	$ (172)	$ (318)	$ (444)	$ (538)