Equity Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Equity Investments Information
Equity earnings	$ 60	$ 60	$ 64
Summarized combined financial information for equity associates at end of year:
Current assets	451	430
Non-current assets	1,025	959
Total assets	1,476	1,389
Current liabilities	200	203
Other liabilities and deferred items	368	211
Total liabilities and deferred items	568	414
Net assets	908	975
Summarized combined financial information for equity associates for the year:
Net sales	755	719	752
Gross profit	182	193	198
Net earnings	134	139	150
Dividends received	38	53	54
Difference between investment carrying value and amount of underlying equity in net assets	12
Purchased equity from affiliates	176	161
Due to Affiliate	76	66
Non-U.S.
Equity Investments Information
Equity earnings	19	23	23
U.S.
Equity Investments Information
Equity earnings	$ 41	$ 37	$ 41
BJC O-I Glass Pte. Ltd
Equity Investments Information
Percentage of equity method investments	50.00%
CO Vidrieria SARL ("COV")
Equity Investments Information
Percentage of equity method investments	50.00%
Rocky Mountain Bottle Company
Equity Investments Information
Percentage of equity method investments	50.00%
Tata Chemical (Soda Ash) Partners
Equity Investments Information
Percentage of equity method investments	25.00%
Vetrerie Meridionali SpA
Equity Investments Information
Percentage of equity method investments	50.00%
Vetri Speciali SpA
Equity Investments Information
Percentage of equity method investments	50.00%