Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Total revenue	$ 6,915,000,000	$ 6,405,000,000	$ 6,516,000,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(1,051,000,000)	(1,005,000,000)	(923,000,000)
Research and development expenses	(259,000,000)	(252,000,000)	(241,000,000)
Asset Impairment Charges	0	227,000,000	0
Restructuring-related charges	4,000,000	50,000,000
Total operating expenses	6,304,000,000	6,214,000,000	5,825,000,000
Income from operations	611,000,000	191,000,000	691,000,000
Interest expense	(197,000,000)	(168,000,000)	(163,000,000)
Other income (expense), net	(73,000,000)	16,000,000	(46,000,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	341,000,000	39,000,000	482,000,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	(273,000,000)	73,000,000	242,000,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations	614,000,000	(34,000,000)	240,000,000
Loss (income) from discontinued operations	(50,000,000)	(52,000,000)	(5,000,000)
Net income (loss)	564,000,000	(86,000,000)	235,000,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	(2,000,000)	(3,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to NCR	564,000,000	(88,000,000)	232,000,000
Amounts attributable to NCR common stockholders:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	614,000,000	(36,000,000)	237,000,000
Series A convertible preferred stock dividends	(110,000,000)	(49,000,000)	(109,000,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders	504,000,000	(85,000,000)	128,000,000
Loss (income) from discontinued operations	(50,000,000)	(52,000,000)	(5,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to NCR common stockholders	$ 454,000,000	$ (137,000,000)	$ 123,000,000
Income (loss) per share attributable to NCR common stockholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 4.13	$ (0.72)	$ 1.05
Diluted (in dollars per share)	3.71	(0.72)	1.01
Net income (loss) per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	3.72	(1.16)	1.01
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 3.36	$ (1.16)	$ 0.97
Weighted average common shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	122.1	118.4	121.9
Weighted Average Limited Partnership Units Outstanding, Diluted	145.2	118.4	127.0
Diluted (net income)	145.2	118.4	127.0
Product [Member]
Total revenue	$ 2,681,000,000	$ 2,341,000,000	$ 2,579,000,000
Cost of products	2,146,000,000	1,988,000,000	2,021,000,000
Service [Member]
Total revenue	4,234,000,000	4,064,000,000	3,937,000,000
Cost of products	$ 2,848,000,000	$ 2,742,000,000	$ 2,640,000,000