Condensed Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited) Statement - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Retained Earnings	Treasury Stock	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss)/Income	Total PPG	Non-controlling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Adjustment to retained earnings - Adoption of ASU 2016-16	$ (4)			$ (4)			$ (4)
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	5,672	$ 969	$ 756	17,140	$ (11,251)	$ (2,057)	5,557	$ 115
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to the controlling and noncontrolling interests	340			334			334	6
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	161					159	159	2
Cash dividends	(112)			(112)			(112)
Purchase of treasury stock	(600)				(600)		(600)
Issuance of treasury stock	31		24		7		31
Stock-based compensation activity	(19)		(19)				(19)
Reductions in noncontrolling interests	(2)							(2)
Reclassification from other comprehensive income to retained earnings - Adoption of ASU 2018-02				107		(107)
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2018	5,467	969	761	17,465	(11,844)	(2,005)	5,346	121
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	4,732	969	788	18,131	(12,958)	(2,300)	4,630	102
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to the controlling and noncontrolling interests	317			312			312	5
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax	75					76	76	(1)
Cash dividends	(113)			(113)			(113)
Purchase of treasury stock	(175)				(175)		(175)
Issuance of treasury stock	184		121		63		184
Stock-based compensation activity	(10)		(10)				(10)
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 5,010	$ 969	$ 899	$ 18,330	$ (13,070)	$ (2,224)	$ 4,904	$ 106