Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
CONDENSED, CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF EARNINGS
Net sales	$ 2,277.9	$ 2,282.5	$ 6,471.3	$ 6,621.5
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(1,846.9)	(1,866.1)	(5,289.3)	(5,444.6)
Depreciation and amortization	(76.6)	(74.7)	(223.6)	(210.2)
Selling, general and administrative	(99.0)	(86.3)	(311.2)	(284.5)
Business consolidation and other activities	(43.8)	(36.8)	(89.1)	(44.0)
Total costs and expenses	(2,066.3)	(2,063.9)	(5,913.2)	(5,983.3)
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 and other	(1.3)		(28.0)	(15.1)
Total interest expense	(46.8)	(44.2)	(166.0)	(149.3)
Earnings before taxes	164.8	174.4	392.1	488.9
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
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	179.5	177.0	306.6	386.9
Ownership interest in guarantor subsidiaries (as a percent)			100.00%
Ball Corporation
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)		0.2		0.1
Depreciation and amortization	(1.6)	(1.5)	(5.9)	(4.3)
Selling, general and administrative	(16.7)	(13.9)	(58.9)	(51.3)
Business consolidation and other activities	0.9	(1.8)	(0.4)	(4.9)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	137.5	114.4	346.6	371.5
Intercompany	46.7	47.0	135.1	129.4
Total costs and expenses	166.8	144.4	416.5	440.5
Earnings before interest and taxes	166.8	144.4	416.5	440.5
Interest expense	(43.3)	(41.2)	(128.4)	(124.3)
Debt refinancing and other	(1.3)		(28.0)	(15.1)
Total interest expense	(44.6)		(156.4)	(139.4)
Earnings before taxes	122.2	103.2	260.1	301.1
Tax provision	(7.0)	11.9	22.2	41.8
Net earnings from continuing operations	115.2	115.1	282.3	342.9
Net earnings	115.2	115.1	282.3	342.9
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	115.2	115.1	282.3	342.9
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	179.5	177.0	306.6	386.9
Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED, CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF EARNINGS
Net sales	1,392.6	1,453.5	3,957.1	4,154.9
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(1,152.0)	(1,204.0)	(3,300.1)	(3,476.6)
Depreciation and amortization	(33.0)	(35.7)	(94.8)	(94.4)
Selling, general and administrative	(42.7)	(42.5)	(135.5)	(140.1)
Business consolidation and other activities	(36.2)	(31.3)	(79.1)	(32.8)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	73.7	69.9	185.5	193.5
Intercompany	(37.7)	(40.1)	(110.6)	(110.6)
Total costs and expenses	(1,227.9)	(1,283.7)	(3,534.6)	(3,661.0)
Earnings before interest and taxes	164.7	169.8	422.5	493.9
Interest expense	0.6	0.4	1.6	1.0
Total interest expense	0.6		1.6	1.0
Earnings before taxes	165.3	170.2	424.1	494.9
Tax provision	(24.6)	(45.6)	(72.8)	(115.6)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	0.6	0.4	0.6	1.4
Net earnings from continuing operations	141.3	125.0	351.9	380.7
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0.3	(2.2)	0.4	(2.9)
Net earnings	141.6	122.8	352.3	377.8
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	141.6	122.8	352.3	377.8
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	204.3	182.8	382.4	415.6
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED, CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF EARNINGS
Net sales	890.3	832.6	2,533.3	2,477.5
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(699.9)	(665.9)	(2,008.3)	(1,979.0)
Depreciation and amortization	(42.0)	(37.5)	(122.9)	(111.5)
Selling, general and administrative	(39.6)	(29.9)	(116.8)	(93.1)
Business consolidation and other activities	(8.5)	(3.7)	(9.6)	(6.3)
Intercompany	(9.0)	(6.9)	(24.5)	(18.8)
Total costs and expenses	(799.0)	(743.9)	(2,282.1)	(2,208.7)
Earnings before interest and taxes	91.3	88.7	251.2	268.8
Interest expense	(2.8)	3.4	(11.2)	(10.9)
Total interest expense	(2.8)		(11.2)	(10.9)
Earnings before taxes	88.5	85.3	240.0	257.9
Tax provision	(12.5)	(18.0)	(42.4)	(55.9)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	0.3	(1.2)	0.3	(2.4)
Net earnings from continuing operations	76.3	66.1	197.9	199.6
Net earnings	76.3	66.1	197.9	199.6
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6.7)	(4.6)	(18.1)	(12.4)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	69.6	61.5	179.8	187.2
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	125.9	104.2	192.5	192.3
Eliminating Adjustments
CONDENSED, CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF EARNINGS
Net sales	(5.0)	(3.6)	(19.1)	(10.9)
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	5.0	3.6	19.1	10.9
Equity in results of subsidiaries	(211.2)	(184.3)	(532.1)	(565.0)
Total costs and expenses	(206.2)	(180.7)	(513.0)	(554.1)
Earnings before interest and taxes	(211.2)	(184.3)	(532.1)	(565.0)
Earnings before taxes	(211.2)	(184.3)	(532.1)	(565.0)
Net earnings from continuing operations	(211.2)	(184.3)	(532.1)	(565.0)
Net earnings	(211.2)	(184.3)	(532.1)	(565.0)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	(211.2)	(184.3)	(532.1)	(565.0)
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	$ (330.2)	$ (287.0)	$ (574.9)	$ (607.9)