Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Operating activities
Net income attributable to the controlling and noncontrolling interests	$ 1,358	$ 1,615	$ 895
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	18	225	330
Income from continuing operations	1,340	1,390	565
Adjustments to reconcile to cash from operations:
Depreciation and amortization	497	460	440
Defined benefit pension expense	43	65	85
Pension settlement charge	0	60	968
Business restructuring, net	66	0	191
Environmental remediation charges and other costs	77	0	82
Stock-based compensation expense	37	35	45
Gain on sale of land	(26)	0	0
Proceeds from Sale of Land Held-for-use	27	0	0
Net gain, from sale of businesses	0	(25)	(39)
Equity affiliate (income)/loss, net of dividends	(1)	(4)	(6)
Deferred income taxes	45	38	171
Cash contributions to pension plans	(99)	(87)	(188)
Restructuring cash expenditures	(66)	(49)	(76)
Funding of asbestos settlement trust	0	0	(813)
Change in certain asset and liability accounts (net of acquisitions):
Receivables	(69)	(76)	(68)
Inventories	(109)	(116)	56
Other current assets	5	(43)	21
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(76)	188	169
Noncurrent assets and liabilities, net	(207)	(170)	(53)
Taxes and interest payable	50	(129)	(268)
Other	(20)	14	(64)
Cash from operating activities - continuing operations	1,487	1,551	1,218
Cash (used for)/from operating activities - discontinued operations	(20)	17	133
Cash from operating activities	1,467	1,568	1,351
Investing activities
Additions to property and investments	(411)	(360)	(380)
Business acquisitions, net of cash balances acquired (See Note 2)	(378)	(225)	(349)
Payments for acquisition of equity investment	0	(100)	0
Net proceeds from the sale of businesses	0	593	1,094
Proceeds from maturity of short-term investments	0	0	92
Payments for the settlement of cross currency swap contracts	(28)	(34)	(36)
Proceeds from the settlement of cross currency swap contracts	23	37	37
Payments on net investment hedges	0	0	(13)
Other	3	26	27
Cash (used for)/from investing activities - continuing operations	(764)	(63)	472
Cash used for investing activities - discontinued operations	0	(4)	(36)
Cash (used for)/from investing activities	(764)	(67)	436
Financing activities
Net change in borrowings with maturities of three months or less	(1)	(7)	(15)
Net payments on commercial paper and short-term debt	(2)	(93)	(361)
Proceeds from long term debt (net of discount and issuance costs) (See Note 8)	992	0	988
Repayment of long-term debt (See Note 8)	(6)	(588)	(379)
Payments related to tax withholding on stock-based compensation awards	(15)	(28)	(26)
Purchase of treasury stock	(1,721)	(813)	(1,050)
Issuance of treasury stock	15	52	31
Dividends paid on PPG common stock	(453)	(434)	(414)
Other	(14)	(43)	16
Cash used for financing activities	(1,205)	(1,954)	(1,210)
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(32)	69	(68)
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents	(534)	(384)	509
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	1,436	1,820	1,311
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	902	1,436	1,820
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of amount capitalized	108	100	118
Taxes paid, net of refunds	$ 380	$ 648	$ 349