Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015 segment	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Segment Information
Number of reportable segments	4
Business Segment Information
Net sales	$ 1,923.1	$ 2,006.8
Business consolidation and other activities	(52.0)
Earnings before interest and taxes	125.9	217.4
Interest expense	(38.5)	(40.2)
Debt refinancing and other costs	(59.9)	(33.1)
Total interest expense	(98.4)	(73.3)
Tax provision	(0.5)	(39.6)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	0.5	0.4
Net earnings	27.5	104.9
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6.8)	(11.4)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	20.7	93.5
Segment Assets
Assets	7,660.5		7,571.0
Operating Segments
Business Segment Information
Earnings before interest and taxes	200.3	241.5
Segment Assets
Assets	7,804.2		7,617.0
Operating Segments | Metal beverage packaging, Americas and Asia
Business Segment Information
Net sales	1,023.0	997.6
Earnings before business consolidation and other activities, and before interest and taxes	125.0	125.1
Business consolidation and other activities	(2.3)	4.8
Earnings before interest and taxes	122.7	129.9
Segment Assets
Assets	3,555.8		3,422.8
Operating Segments | Metal beverage packaging, Europe
Business Segment Information
Net sales	379.2	450.2
Earnings before business consolidation and other activities, and before interest and taxes	28.9	55.5
Business consolidation and other activities	(2.0)	(1.2)
Earnings before interest and taxes	26.9	54.3
Segment Assets
Assets	2,216.9		2,274.5
Operating Segments | Metal food & household products packaging
Business Segment Information
Net sales	308.3	341.1
Earnings before business consolidation and other activities, and before interest and taxes	30.2	36.3
Business consolidation and other activities	(0.2)	(3.1)
Earnings before interest and taxes	30.0	33.2
Segment Assets
Assets	1,632.1		1,508.1
Operating Segments | Aerospace & technologies
Business Segment Information
Net sales	214.8	220.7
Earnings before business consolidation and other activities, and before interest and taxes	20.0	24.1
Business consolidation and other activities	0.7
Earnings before interest and taxes	20.7	24.1
Segment Assets
Assets	399.4		411.6
Corporate and intercompany eliminations
Business Segment Information
Net sales	(2.2)	(2.8)
Undistributed corporate expenses and intercompany eliminations, net	(26.2)	(23.6)
Business consolidation and other activities	(48.2)	(0.5)
Total undistributed corporate expenses and intercompany eliminations, net	(74.4)	(24.1)
Segment Assets
Assets	$ (143.7)		$ (46.0)