Business Consolidation and Other Activities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014 Operating Segments Metal beverage packaging, Americas & Asia	Mar. 31, 2014 Operating Segments Metal beverage packaging, Americas & Asia	Jun. 30, 2013 Operating Segments Metal beverage packaging, Americas & Asia oz	Mar. 31, 2013 Operating Segments Metal beverage packaging, Americas & Asia	Jun. 30, 2014 Operating Segments Metal beverage packaging, Americas & Asia	Jun. 30, 2013 Operating Segments Metal beverage packaging, Americas & Asia oz	Jun. 30, 2014 Operating Segments Metal beverage packaging, Europe	Jun. 30, 2013 Operating Segments Metal beverage packaging, Europe	Jun. 30, 2014 Operating Segments Metal beverage packaging, Europe	Jun. 30, 2013 Operating Segments Metal beverage packaging, Europe	Jun. 30, 2014 Operating Segments Metal food & household products packaging	Mar. 31, 2014 Operating Segments Metal food & household products packaging	Jun. 30, 2013 Operating Segments Metal food & household products packaging	Mar. 31, 2013 Operating Segments Metal food & household products packaging	Jun. 30, 2014 Operating Segments Metal food & household products packaging	Jun. 30, 2013 Operating Segments Metal food & household products packaging	Jun. 30, 2013 Operating Segments Aerospace & technologies	Jun. 30, 2013 Operating Segments Aerospace & technologies	Jun. 30, 2014 Operating Segments Metal Beverage Packaging, Europe, and Corporate	Mar. 31, 2014 Operating Segments Metal Beverage Packaging, Europe, and Corporate	Jun. 30, 2013 Operating Segments Metal Beverage Packaging, Europe, and Corporate	Mar. 31, 2013 Operating Segments Metal Beverage Packaging, Europe, and Corporate	Jun. 30, 2014 Operating Segments Metal Beverage Packaging, Europe, and Corporate	Jun. 30, 2014 Corporate and Other Costs	Jun. 30, 2013 Corporate and Other Costs	Jun. 30, 2014 Corporate and Other Costs	Jun. 30, 2013 Corporate and Other Costs
Business consolidation and other activities
Business consolidation and other activities	$ (8.6)	$ (22.6)	$ (8.6)	$ (45.3)		$ (3.0)		$ (11.0)		$ 1.8	$ (12.5)	$ (1.1)	$ (1.2)	$ (2.3)	$ (2.9)	$ (4.0)		$ (9.7)		$ (7.1)	$ (28.5)	$ (0.2)	$ (0.2)						$ (0.5)	$ (0.5)	$ (1.0)	$ (1.2)
Charges related to a fire at company's metal beverage container plants						2.2
Compensation received for reimbursement of severance costs incurred in connection with facilities closure and relocation							5.0
Gain on sale of facilities							0.8
Other closure costs																										1.7	2.4
Other closure costs								1.5		1.0						1.7	2.0
Charges related to facilities closure								3.9	1.5	1.8						2.3	1.1	5.3	20.8		26.1
Charge incurred in connection with headcount reductions, cost-out initiatives and relocation of the company's European headquarters from Germany to Switzerland																								1.1	1.2
Tax expense related to relocation of the company's European headquarters from Germany to Switzerland																								2.0	2.1
Charges for other insignificant activities																												1.0
Charges to eliminate 12-ounce beverage can production from facility								7.1
Weight of container (in ounces)								12			12
Accelerated depreciation								3.6													5.9
Charges related to migrate certain hourly employees from a multi-employer defined benefit pension plan to a Ball-sponsored defined benefit pension plan																		5.9
Severance, pension and other employee benefits								2.0													16.0
Write down of land and buildings down to net realizable value																					4.2
Income related to settlement of defined benefit pension liabilities																		1.5	2.0
Summary of reserve activity by segment related to restructuring activities
Balance at the beginning of the period			16.6				1.9			1.9							14.7			14.7
Charges to earnings			2.4							(1.4)										3.8
Cash payments and other activity			(5.9)							(0.2)										(5.7)
Balance at the end of the period	13.1		13.1			0.3				0.3						12.8				12.8
Assets held for sale in connection with facility closures	$ 15.7		$ 15.7		$ 20.4