Consolidated Statement of Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 14,751	$ 14,766	$ 14,791
Cost of sales, exclusive of depreciation and amortization	8,063	8,206	8,348
Selling, general and administrative	3,662	3,624	3,696
Depreciation	341	339	324
Amortization	121	132	126
Research and development, net	466	476	483
Interest expense	125	125	187
Interest income	(26)	(39)	(50)
Asbestos settlement, net	5	12	12
Business restructuring	197	140	0
Debt refinancing charge	0	0	317
Noncash Pension Settlement Charge - before tax	968	0	0
Other charges	178	93	217
Other income	(176)	(125)	(215)
Income before income taxes	827	1,783	1,346
Income tax expense	241	424	237
Income from continuing operations	586	1,359	1,109
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	313	68	1,050
Net income attributable to the controlling and noncontrolling interests	899	1,427	2,159
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	22	21	57
Net income (attributable to PPG)	877	1,406	2,102
Continuing operations	564	1,338	1,085
Discontinued operations	$ 313	$ 68	$ 1,017
Earnings per common share
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 2.12	$ 4.93	$ 3.92
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	1.18	0.25	3.68
Net Income (attributable to PPG) (in dollars per share)	3.30	5.18	7.60
Earnings per common share - assuming dilution
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	2.11	4.89	3.88
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	1.17	0.25	3.64
Net Income (attributable to PPG) (in dollars per share)	$ 3.28	$ 5.14	$ 7.52