Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Operating activities:
Net income attributable to the controlling and noncontrolling interests	$ 2,070	$ 3,071
Less: Income from discontinued operations	(1,005)	(2,343)
Income from continuing operations	1,065	728
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash from operations:
Depreciation and amortization	353	333
Pension expense	49	90
Stock-based compensation expense	53	59
Business restructuring	0	98
Environmental remediation charge	138	101
Equity affiliate earnings, net of distributions received	(55)	9
Deferred income taxes	(59)	(49)
Cash contributions to pension plans	(12)	(47)
Restructuring cash spending	(41)	(55)
Change in certain asset and liability accounts:
Receivables	(416)	(306)
Inventories	(205)	(6)
Other current assets	(86)	(28)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	433	191
Noncurrent assets	(23)	10
Noncurrent liabilities	(121)	(62)
Taxes and interest payable	106	5
Other	65	73
Cash from operating activities - continuing operations	1,244	1,144
Cash (used for) from operating activities - discontinued operations	(207)	138
Cash from operating activities	1,037	1,282
Investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(358)	(250)
Business acquisitions, net of cash balances acquired	(114)	(978)
Deposit of cash into escrow	(11)	0
Proceeds from separation and merger of commodity chemicals business, net	0	940
Proceeds from the disposition of PPG's interest in the Transitions Optical joint venture and sunlens business (proceeds of $1,735, net of $110 cash divested)	1,625	0
Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets	56	0
Purchase of short-term investments	(936)	(1,063)
Proceeds from maturity of short-term investments	960	1,532
Payments on cross currency swap contracts	(45)	(24)
Proceeds from cross currency swap contracts	37	19
Other	7	(1)
Cash from investing activities - continuing operations	1,221	175
Cash used for investing activities - discontinued operations	(1)	(7)
Cash from investing activities	1,220	168
Financing activities:
Net change in borrowing with maturities of three months or less	(14)	(13)
Repayment of debt	(2)	(607)
Repayment of acquired debt	(37)	0
Purchase of treasury stock	(450)	(320)
Issuance of treasury stock	52	59
Dividends paid on PPG common stock	(269)	(259)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	(39)	0
Other	(17)	7
Cash used for financing activities - continuing operations	(776)	(1,133)
Cash used for financing activities - discontinued operations	(40)	(54)
Cash used for financing activities	(816)	(1,187)
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(89)	(7)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	1,352	256
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	1,116	1,306
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	2,468
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	160	166
Taxes paid, net of refunds	$ 504	$ 231