Earnings and Dividends Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jul. 01, 2012	Apr. 01, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Earnings and Dividends Per Share
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	$ 115.2			$ 115.1			$ 282.3	$ 342.9
Basic weighted average common shares	144,714,000			153,604,000			146,910,000	155,561,000
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	3,181,000			3,504,000			3,212,000	3,402,000
Weighted average shares applicable to diluted earnings per share	147,895,000			157,108,000			150,122,000	158,963,000
Per basic share	$ 0.80			$ 0.75			$ 1.92	$ 2.20
Per diluted share	$ 0.78			$ 0.73			$ 1.88	$ 2.16
Number of outstanding options and SSARs excluded from computation of diluted earnings per share	1,400,000			1,500,000			1,500,000	2,100,000
Dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0.13	$ 0.13	$ 0.13	$ 0.10	$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Dividends paid (in dollars per share)	$ 0.13	$ 0.13	$ 0.13	$ 0.10	$ 0.10	$ 0.10