Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 segment	Apr. 01, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Business Segment Information
Number of reportable segments	4
Business Segment Information
Net sales	$ 1,991.0	$ 2,042.7
Total undistributed and corporate expenses and intercompany eliminations, net	(22.5)	(21.4)
Business consolidation and other activities	(22.7)	(4.4)
Segment earnings before interest and taxes	143.0	182.0
Interest expense	(44.8)	(60.4)
Tax provision	(18.1)	(28.0)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	(0.8)	(0.2)
Net earnings from continuing operations	79.3	93.4
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0.1	(0.3)
Net earnings	79.4	93.1
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7.4)	(4.8)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	72.0	88.3
Segment Assets
Assets	7,776.0		7,507.1
Total of segments
Business Segment Information
Segment earnings before interest and taxes	165.5	203.4
Segment Assets
Assets	7,688.0		7,302.5
Metal beverage packaging, Americas and Asia
Business Segment Information
Net sales	995.2	1,049.7
Earnings before business consolidation and other activities, and before interest and taxes	104.0	105.5
Business consolidation and other activities	(1.5)	(1.7)
Segment earnings before interest and taxes	102.5	103.8
Segment Assets
Assets	3,386.5		3,227.5
Metal beverage packaging, Europe
Business Segment Information
Net sales	402.9	414.5
Earnings before business consolidation and other activities, and before interest and taxes	30.9	42.4
Business consolidation and other activities	(1.7)	(1.8)
Segment earnings before interest and taxes	29.2	40.6
Segment Assets
Assets	2,359.3		2,173.3
Metal food and household products packaging
Business Segment Information
Net sales	367.2	378.9
Earnings before business consolidation and other activities, and before interest and taxes	34.7	39.3
Business consolidation and other activities	(18.8)
Segment earnings before interest and taxes	15.9	39.3
Segment Assets
Assets	1,612.7		1,568.9
Aerospace & technologies
Business Segment Information
Net sales	231.4	201.6
Earnings before business consolidation and other activities, and before interest and taxes	17.9	19.7
Segment earnings before interest and taxes	17.9	19.7
Segment Assets
Assets	329.5		332.8
Corporate assets and intercompany eliminations
Segment Assets
Assets	88.0		204.6
Corporate and intercompany eliminations
Business Segment Information
Net sales	(5.7)	(2.0)
Total undistributed and corporate expenses and intercompany eliminations, net	(21.8)	(20.5)
Business consolidation and other activities	$ (0.7)	$ (0.9)