Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating activities
Net income attributable to the controlling and noncontrolling interests	$ 899	$ 1,427	$ 2,159
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	313	68	1,050
Income from continuing operations	586	1,359	1,109
Adjustments to reconcile to cash from operations:
Depreciation and amortization	462	471	450
Defined benefit pension expense	86	91	58
Noncash Pension Settlement Charge - before tax	968	0	0
Business restructuring	197	140	0
Environmental remediation charge	82	0	138
Stock-based compensation expense	39	54	71
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Equity Investments	(40)	0	0
Equity affiliate (earnings)/losses, net of dividends	(4)	63	(56)
Deferred income taxes	155	(1)	(87)
Cash contributions to pension plans	(204)	(273)	(41)
Restructuring cash expenditures	(78)	(45)	(57)
Cash Paid for Asbestos Settlement Funding	(813)	0	0
Debt refinancing charge	0	0	317
Change in certain asset and liability accounts (net of acquisitions):
Receivables	(59)	(150)	(116)
Inventories	61	31	(99)
Other current assets	24	(83)	(68)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	135	101	185
Noncurrent assets and liabilities, net	(56)	(97)	(129)
Taxes and interest payable	(247)	91	46
Other	(53)	(17)	(3)
Cash from operating activities - continuing operations	1,241	1,735	1,718
Cash from/(used for) operating activities - discontinued operations	84	102	(190)
Cash from operating activities	1,325	1,837	1,528
Investing activities
Additions to property and investments	(402)	(454)	(564)
Business acquisitions, net of cash balances acquired (See Note 2)	(349)	(320)	(2,113)
Net proceeds from the sale of businesses	1,094	47	1,625
Proceeds from maturity of short-term investments	92	402	1,298
Purchase of short-term investments	0	(97)	(1,204)
Payments on cross currency swap contracts	(36)	(34)	(45)
Proceeds from cross currency swap contracts	37	37	37
(Payments on) / Proceeds from net investment hedges	(13)	19	49
Other	27	27	28
Cash from/(used for) investing activities - continuing operations	450	(373)	(889)
Cash (used for)/from investing activities - discontinued operations	(14)	(22)	32
Cash from/(used for) investing activities	436	(395)	(857)
Financing activities
Net change in borrowings with maturities of three months or less	(15)	(32)	89
Net (payments)/proceeds on commercial paper and short-term debt	(361)	(528)	932
Proceeds from long term debt (net of discount and issuance costs) (See Note 8)	988	1,242	1,163
Repayment of long-term debt (See Note 8)	(379)	(340)	(1,803)
Premium paid for redemption of securities	(8)	0	(222)
Purchase of treasury stock	(1,050)	(751)	(750)
Issuance of treasury stock	31	53	57
Dividends paid on PPG common stock	(414)	(383)	(361)
Other	24	(15)	(34)
Cash used for financing activities - continuing operations	(1,184)	(754)	(929)
Cash used for financing activities - discontinued operations	0	0	(40)
Cash used for financing activities	(1,184)	(754)	(969)
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(68)	(63)	(132)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	509	625	(430)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	1,311	686	1,116
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	1,820	1,311	686
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	118	115	218
Taxes paid, net of refunds	$ 349	$ 383	$ 642