Reportable Business Segment Information (Reportable Segment Tables) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total Net sales	$ 3,645	$ 3,817	$ 4,131	$ 3,781	$ 3,682	$ 3,776	$ 3,804	$ 3,486	$ 15,374	$ 14,748	$ 14,270
Total Segment income									2,118	2,292	2,382
Legacy items									5	(2)	(17)
Environmental remediation charges and other costs									(77)	0	(82)
Business restructuring, net									(66)	0	(191)
Accelerated depreciation related to restructuring actions									(9)	0	0
Impairment of a non-manufacturing asset									(9)	0	0
Legacy legal settlements									(10)	0	0
Transaction-related costs									(6)	(9)	(8)
Gain from sale of a non-operating asset									26	13	0
Brand rationalization charge									(6)	0	0
Gain from a legal settlement									0	18	0
Asset write-downs									0	(7)	(23)
Pension settlement charges									0	(60)	(968)
Gains on disposals of ownership interests in business affiliates									0	25	46
Interest expense, net of interest income									(95)	(85)	(99)
Corporate unallocated									(146)	(180)	(261)
Total Income before income taxes									1,693	2,005	779
Depreciation and amortization									497	460	440
Share of net earnings of equity affiliates									16	12	8
Segment assets	16,015				16,538				16,015	16,538
Investment in equity affiliates	132				134				132	134	46
Expenditures for property (including business acquisitions)									789	685	729
Performance Coatings Segment
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total Net sales									9,087	8,730	8,580
Total Segment income									1,300	1,313	1,322
Depreciation and amortization									274	272	272
Share of net earnings of equity affiliates									1	2	5
Investment in equity affiliates	33				32				33	32	30
Expenditures for property (including business acquisitions)									545	224	187
Industrial Coatings Segment
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total Net sales									6,287	6,018	5,690
Total Segment income									818	979	1,060
Depreciation and amortization									181	164	143
Share of net earnings of equity affiliates									0	0	1
Investment in equity affiliates	13				13				13	13	13
Expenditures for property (including business acquisitions)									157	328	510
Consolidation, Eliminations
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization									42	24	25
Share of net earnings of equity affiliates									15	10	2
Investment in equity affiliates	86				89				86	89	3
Expenditures for property (including business acquisitions)									87	133	32
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment assets	16,015				16,538				16,015	16,538	15,771
Operating Segments | Performance Coatings Segment
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment assets	9,846				9,763				9,846	9,763	9,168
Operating Segments | Industrial Coatings Segment
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment assets	4,441				4,563				4,441	4,563	3,972
Operating Segments | Consolidation, Eliminations
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Segment assets	$ 1,728				$ 2,212				1,728	2,212	2,631
Mexican Plaka Business
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Accounting investigation costs									(14)	0	0
Other Business Affiliates
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Costs related to customer assortment change									$ (18)	$ 0	$ 0