Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 segment	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Business Segment Information
Number of reportable segments			4
Business Segment Information
Net sales	$ 2,277.9	$ 2,282.5	$ 6,471.3	$ 6,621.5
Business consolidation and other activities	(43.8)	(36.8)	(89.1)	(44.0)
Earnings before interest and taxes	211.6	218.6	558.1	638.2
Interest expense	(45.5)	(44.2)	(138.0)	(134.2)
Debt refinancing costs	(1.3)		(28.0)	(15.1)
Total interest expense	(46.8)	(44.2)	(166.0)	(149.3)
Tax provision	(44.1)	(51.7)	(93.0)	(129.7)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	0.9	(0.8)	0.9	(1.0)
Net earnings from continuing operations	121.6	121.9	300.0	358.2
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0.3	(2.2)	0.4	(2.9)
Net earnings	121.9	119.7	300.4	355.3
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6.7)	(4.6)	(18.1)	(12.4)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	115.2	115.1	282.3	342.9
Segment Assets
Assets	7,709.2		7,709.2		7,507.1
Total of segments
Business Segment Information
Earnings before interest and taxes	227.0	234.1	614.5	691.5
Segment Assets
Assets	7,615.4		7,615.4		7,429.0
Metal beverage packaging, Americas and Asia
Business Segment Information
Net sales	1,109.2	1,169.6	3,190.7	3,426.9
Earnings before business consolidation and other activities, and before interest and taxes	134.8	142.2	364.5	384.5
Business consolidation and other activities	(14.1)	(31.5)	(26.6)	(32.9)
Earnings before interest and taxes	120.7	110.7	337.9	351.6
Segment Assets
Assets	3,307.6		3,307.6		3,227.5
Metal beverage packaging, Europe
Business Segment Information
Net sales	488.9	450.8	1,400.5	1,377.0
Earnings before business consolidation and other activities, and before interest and taxes	60.5	54.3	143.2	152.7
Business consolidation and other activities	(1.7)	(3.5)	(4.6)	(6.2)
Earnings before interest and taxes	58.8	50.8	138.6	146.5
Segment Assets
Assets	2,325.9		2,325.9		2,299.8
Metal food and household products packaging
Business Segment Information
Net sales	463.6	445.8	1,213.4	1,196.7
Earnings before business consolidation and other activities, and before interest and taxes	58.4	50.1	140.6	131.0
Business consolidation and other activities	(28.9)		(57.4)
Earnings before interest and taxes	29.5	50.1	83.2	131.0
Segment Assets
Assets	1,635.3		1,635.3		1,568.9
Aerospace & technologies
Business Segment Information
Net sales	217.5	219.9	675.0	631.8
Earnings before business consolidation and other activities, and before interest and taxes	18.0	22.5	55.0	62.4
Business consolidation and other activities			(0.2)
Earnings before interest and taxes	18.0	22.5	54.8	62.4
Segment Assets
Assets	346.6		346.6		332.8
Corporate assets and intercompany eliminations
Segment Assets
Assets	93.8		93.8		78.1
Corporate and intercompany eliminations
Business Segment Information
Net sales	(1.3)	(3.6)	(8.3)	(10.9)
Undistributed and corporate expenses and intercompany eliminations, net	(16.3)	(13.7)	(56.1)	(48.4)
Business consolidation and other activities	0.9	(1.8)	(0.3)	(4.9)
Total undistributed and corporate expenses and intercompany eliminations, net	$ (15.4)	$ (15.5)	$ (56.4)	$ (53.3)