Earnings and Dividends Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Apr. 01, 2012
Diluted earnings per share:
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	$ 72.0	$ 88.3
Basic weighted average common shares	148,976,000	157,530,000
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	3,340,000	3,415,000
Weighted average shares applicable to diluted earnings per share	152,316,000	160,945,000
Per basic share	$ 0.48	$ 0.56
Per diluted share	$ 0.47	$ 0.55
Number of outstanding options excluded from computation of diluted earnings per share	1,364,870	2,729,010
Dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0.13	$ 0.10
Dividends paid (in dollars per share)	$ 0.13	$ 0.10