Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Operating activities
Net income attributable to the controlling and noncontrolling interests	$ 2,159	$ 3,353	$ 1,064
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,002	2,380	384
Income from continuing operations	1,157	973	680
Adjustments to reconcile to cash from operations:
Depreciation and amortization	476	452	399
Defined benefit pension expense	68	107	143
Business restructuring	0	98	176
Environmental remediation charge	138	101	159
Stock-based compensation expense	73	81	71
Equity affiliate (earnings)/losses, net of dividends	(56)	17	3
Deferred income taxes	(89)	(16)	(207)
Cash contributions to pension plans	(41)	(174)	(80)
Restructuring cash spending	(57)	(86)	(87)
Debt refinancing charge	317	0	0
Change in certain asset and liability accounts (net of acquisitions):
Receivables	(119)	(25)	171
Inventories	(95)	44	53
Other current assets	(68)	(34)	7
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	215	5	(55)
Noncurrent assets	(41)	32	(24)
Noncurrent liabilities	(112)	(84)	(35)
Taxes and interest payable	64	19	55
Other	(23)	52	(19)
Cash from operating activities - continuing operations	1,807	1,562	1,410
Cash (used for)/from operating activities - discontinued operations	(279)	229	377
Cash from operating activities	1,528	1,791	1,787
Investing activities
Additions to property and investments	(587)	(494)	(330)
Business acquisitions, net of cash balances acquired (See Note 2)	(2,113)	(983)	(122)
Proceeds from the 2014 sale of transitions and sunlens and 2013 separation of commodity chemicals	1,625	940	0
Proceeds from maturity of short-term investments	1,298	1,796	250
Purchase of short-term investments	(1,204)	(1,227)	(1,332)
Payments on cross currency swap contracts	(45)	(42)	(77)
Proceeds from cross currency swap contracts	37	37	54
Proceeds from net investment hedges	49	0	0
Other	84	(5)	28
Cash (used for)/from investing activities - continuing operations	(856)	22	(1,529)
Cash used for investing activities - discontinued operations	(1)	(19)	(82)
Cash (used for)/from investing activities	(857)	3	(1,611)
Financing activities
Net change in borrowings with maturities of three months or less	89	(7)	(1)
Net proceeds/(payments) on commercial paper and short-term debt	932	0	(9)
Proceeds from long term debt (net of discount and issuance costs) (See Note 8)	1,163	0	397
Repayment of long-term debt (See Note 8)	(1,489)	(605)	(71)
Repayment of acquired debt (See Note 8)	(314)	0	(119)
Premium paid for redemption of securities	(222)	0	0
Settlement of forward starting swaps	0	0	(121)
Proceeds from termination of interest rate swaps	0	0	29
Purchase of treasury stock	(750)	(1,000)	(92)
Issuance of treasury stock	57	68	122
Dividends paid on PPG common stock	(361)	(345)	(358)
Other	(34)	(4)	(27)
Cash used for financing activities - continuing operations	(929)	(1,893)	(250)
Cash used for financing activities - discontinued operations	(40)	(86)	(101)
Cash used for financing activities	(969)	(1,979)	(351)
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(132)	(5)	24
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(430)	(190)	(151)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	1,116	1,306	1,457
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	686	1,116	1,306
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	218	201	219
Taxes paid, net of refunds	$ 642	$ 319	$ 503