Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 item	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Business Segment Information
Number of reportable segments	4
Business Segment Information
Net sales	$ 2,006.8	$ 1,991.0
Business consolidation and other activities		(22.7)
Earnings before interest and taxes	217.4	143.0
Interest expense	(40.2)	(44.8)
Debt refinancing costs	(33.1)
Total interest expense	(73.3)	(44.8)
Tax provision	(39.6)	(18.1)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	0.4	(0.8)
Net earnings from continuing operations	104.9	79.3
Discontinued operations, net of tax		0.1
Net earnings	104.9	79.4
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(11.4)	(7.4)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	93.5	72.0
Segment Assets
Assets	7,744.5		7,819.8
Operating Segments
Business Segment Information
Earnings before interest and taxes	241.3	165.5
Segment Assets
Assets	7,853.9		7,712.3
Operating Segments | Metal beverage packaging, Americas and Asia
Business Segment Information
Net sales	997.6	995.2
Earnings before business consolidation and other activities, and before interest and taxes	124.9	104.0
Business consolidation and other activities	4.8	(1.5)
Earnings before interest and taxes	129.7	102.5
Segment Assets
Assets	3,432.9		3,425.2
Operating Segments | Metal beverage packaging, Europe
Business Segment Information
Net sales	450.2	402.9
Earnings before business consolidation and other activities, and before interest and taxes	55.5	30.9
Business consolidation and other activities	(1.2)	(1.7)
Earnings before interest and taxes	54.3	29.2
Segment Assets
Assets	2,456.2		2,380.1
Operating Segments | Metal food & household products packaging
Business Segment Information
Net sales	341.1	367.2
Earnings before business consolidation and other activities, and before interest and taxes	36.3	34.7
Business consolidation and other activities	(3.1)	(18.8)
Earnings before interest and taxes	33.2	15.9
Segment Assets
Assets	1,601.0		1,560.9
Operating Segments | Aerospace & technologies
Business Segment Information
Net sales	220.7	231.4
Earnings before business consolidation and other activities, and before interest and taxes	24.1	17.9
Segment Assets
Assets	363.8		346.1
Corporate and intercompany eliminations
Business Segment Information
Net sales	(2.8)	(5.7)
Undistributed and corporate expenses and intercompany eliminations, net	(23.4)	(21.8)
Business consolidation and other activities	(0.5)	(0.7)
Total undistributed and corporate expenses and intercompany eliminations, net	(23.9)	(22.5)
Corporate
Segment Assets
Assets	$ (109.4)		$ 107.5