Interest cost associated with litigation settlements due to recognition of initial liability at net present value.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Cash Contributed to the PC Trust

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ppg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Cash Paid for Asbestos Settlement Funding

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ppg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value of the PPG stock to be contributed to the Asbestos Trust.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Forward Contract Indexed to Issuers Equity, Change In Fair Value Of Contract

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Forward Contract Indexed to Issuers Equity, Fair Value

+ References

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Long Term Obligations Reclassified as Short Term Obligations

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ppg_LongTermObligationsReclassifiedAsShortTermObligations
Namespace Prefix:	ppg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Change in fair value of PPG stock to be contributed to the Asbestos Trust.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ppg_NetChangesInTreasuryStock
Namespace Prefix:	ppg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Difference between the 2nd and 3rd amended PC plan of re-organization in cash to be contributed to the Trust by PPG which has been established as a reserve for asbestos-related claims that will not be channeled to the Trust.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ppg_OtherReserves
Namespace Prefix:	ppg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Prepayment of future pre-tax cash payments to the trust

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ppg_Prepaymentoffuturepretaxcashpaymentstothetrust
Namespace Prefix:	ppg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of shares of PPG stock to be contributed to the asbestos Trust by PPG upon finalization/approval of the 3rd amended PC plan of re-organization.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ppg_SettlementPayablesShares
Namespace Prefix:	ppg_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Discount rate to be applied to any pre-payments made by PPG to the asbestos Trust.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ppg_SettlementPrepaymentDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix:	ppg_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Settlement of equity forward instrument with counterparty

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ppg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66022249&loc=d3e33749-111570

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount due in settlement of a claim for reimbursement from an insurance company when the Company has suffered a loss covered under an insurance policy.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Aggregate carrying amount of the estimated litigation liability for known or estimated probable loss from litigation, which may include attorneys' fees and other litigation costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Litigation Settlements Disclosure) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	May 14, 2002	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2008
Forward Contract Indexed To Issuers Equity Fair Value			$ 223		$ 258
Prepayment of future pre-tax cash payments to the trust					$ 764
Cash Paid for Asbestos Settlement Funding		$ 813	0	$ 0
Change in fair value:
Investment in equity affiliates		(46)	(221)	(295)
Asbestos Issue
Change in fair value:
Other Reserves		162
Asbestos Settlement Liability, Current
Beginning balance/Prior year activity		796	821	763
Change in fair value:
PPG stock		34	(46)	58
Equity forward instrument		0
Accretion of asbestos liability		0	14
Company Stock To Be Contributed To Asbestos Trust		(308)
Reclassification		(1)	7
Ending balance/Activity during year			796	821
Asbestos Settlement Liability, Long-term
Beginning balance/Prior year activity		252	259	245
Change in fair value:
PPG stock		0
Equity forward instrument
Accretion of asbestos liability		6		14
Reclassification		0	(7)
Ending balance/Activity during year			252	259
Equity Forward (Asset) Liability
Forward Contract Indexed To Issuers Equity Fair Value			(223)	(267)		$ (207)
Change in fair value:
PPG stock		0
Equity forward instrument		35	(44)	60
Accretion of asbestos liability		0
Settlement of equity forward instrument with counterparty		(49)
Company Stock To Be Contributed To Asbestos Trust		308
Reclassification		1
Pre-tax Charge
Beginning balance/Prior year activity		12	12	11
Change in fair value:
PPG stock		34	(46)	58
Equity forward instrument		(35)	44	(60)
Accretion of asbestos liability		6	14	14
Reclassification		0
Ending balance/Activity during year		5	$ 12	$ 12
Pittsburgh Corning Corporation [Member]
Change in fair value:
Investment in equity affiliates		(15)
Other Current Liabilities [Member]
Change in fair value:
Cash Contributed to the PC Trust		(506)
Other Noncurrent Liabilities [Member]
Change in fair value:
Cash Contributed to the PC Trust		$ (258)
Pittsburgh Corning Corporation [Member] \| Asbestos Issue
Agreement to convey assets to the PC asbestos settlement trust (the Trust), shares of PPG common stock	2,777,778
Change in fair value:
Future cash payments to the Trust by PPG's participating historical insurance carriers							$ 1,700
Future PPG cash payments to the Trust, prepayment discount rate	5.50%