Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Ownership interest in guarantor subsidiaries (as a percent)	100.00%
CONDENSED, CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF EARNINGS
Net sales	$ 2,006.8	$ 1,991.0
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(1,612.9)	(1,643.5)
Depreciation and amortization	(68.8)	(72.5)
Selling, general and administrative	(107.7)	(109.3)
Business consolidation and other activities		(22.7)
Total costs and expenses	(1,789.4)	(1,848.0)
Earnings before interest and taxes	217.4	143.0
Interest expense	(40.2)	(44.8)
Debt refinancing and other	(33.1)
Total interest expense	(73.3)	(44.8)
Earnings before taxes	144.1	98.2
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
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	77.7	25.3
Ball Corporation
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(0.1)	(0.2)
Depreciation and amortization	(1.5)	(1.4)
Selling, general and administrative	(22.7)	(22.8)
Business consolidation and other activities	(0.6)	(0.8)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	134.6	81.1
Intercompany	47.3	42.2
Total costs and expenses	157.0	98.1
Earnings before interest and taxes	157.0	98.1
Interest expense	(38.0)
Debt refinancing and other	(33.1)
Total interest expense	(71.1)	(41.1)
Earnings before taxes	85.9	57.0
Tax provision	7.6	15.0
Net earnings from continuing operations		72.0
Net earnings	93.5	72.0
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	93.5	72.0
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	77.7	25.3
Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED, CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF EARNINGS
Net sales	1,171.8	1,225.3
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(972.1)	(1,035.6)
Depreciation and amortization	(30.8)	(30.9)
Selling, general and administrative	(43.5)	(47.8)
Business consolidation and other activities	(3.8)	(22.0)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	81.5	46.4
Intercompany	(43.1)	(35.5)
Total costs and expenses	(1,011.8)	(1,125.4)
Earnings before interest and taxes	160.0	99.9
Interest expense	0.5
Total interest expense	0.5	0.5
Earnings before taxes	160.5	100.4
Tax provision	(25.1)	(17.7)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	0.2	(0.5)
Net earnings from continuing operations		82.2
Discontinued operations, net of tax		0.1
Net earnings	135.6	82.3
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	135.6	82.3
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	119.3	44.9
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED, CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF EARNINGS
Net sales	837.8	775.4
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(643.5)	(617.4)
Depreciation and amortization	(36.5)	(40.2)
Selling, general and administrative	(41.5)	(38.7)
Business consolidation and other activities	4.4	0.1
Intercompany	(4.2)	(6.7)
Total costs and expenses	(721.3)	(702.9)
Earnings before interest and taxes	116.5	72.5
Interest expense	(2.7)
Total interest expense	(2.7)	(4.2)
Earnings before taxes	113.8	68.3
Tax provision	(22.1)	(15.4)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	0.2	(0.3)
Net earnings from continuing operations		52.6
Net earnings	91.9	52.6
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(11.4)	(7.4)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	80.5	45.2
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	62.5	(2.9)
Eliminating Adjustments
CONDENSED, CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF EARNINGS
Net sales	(2.8)	(9.7)
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	2.8	9.7
Equity in results of subsidiaries	(216.1)	(127.5)
Total costs and expenses	(213.3)	(117.8)
Earnings before interest and taxes	(216.1)	(127.5)
Earnings before taxes	(216.1)	(127.5)
Net earnings from continuing operations		(127.5)
Net earnings	(216.1)	(127.5)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	(216.1)	(127.5)
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	$ (181.8)	$ (42.0)