Employee Benefit Obligations (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Employee Benefit Obligations
Underfunded defined benefit pension liabilities	$ 688.2		$ 724.1
Less current portion and prepaid pension assets	(18.6)		(19.4)
Long-term defined benefit pension liability	669.6		704.7
Retiree medical and other postemployment benefits	168.8		169.0
Deferred compensation plans	265.3		272.2
Other	28.6		32.4
Employee benefit obligations	1,132.3		1,178.3
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Employee Benefit Obligations
Net periodic benefit cost for multi-employer plans	0.5	0.7
Total net periodic benefit cost	23.3	22.1
Ball-sponsored plans:
Service cost	16.7	14.9
Interest cost	19.0	22.1
Expected return on plan assets	(24.8)	(24.0)
Amortization of prior service cost	(0.4)	(0.1)
Recognized net actuarial loss	12.3	8.5
Net periodic benefit cost for Ball-sponsored plans	22.8	21.4
Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Funded plans
Ball-sponsored plans:
Contributions to pension plans			33.9
Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Unfunded German plans
Employee Benefit Obligations
Expected benefit payments to plan participants for the full year	18
Ball-sponsored plans:
Contributions to pension plans	4.6
U.S.
Employee Benefit Obligations
Net periodic benefit cost for multi-employer plans	0.5	0.7
Total net periodic benefit cost	17.5	14.4
Ball-sponsored plans:
Service cost	13.0	11.4
Interest cost	14.3	15.6
Expected return on plan assets	(19.8)	(20.5)
Amortization of prior service cost	(0.3)
Recognized net actuarial loss	9.8	7.2
Net periodic benefit cost for Ball-sponsored plans	17.0	13.7
Foreign
Employee Benefit Obligations
Total net periodic benefit cost	5.8	7.7
Ball-sponsored plans:
Service cost	3.7	3.5
Interest cost	4.7	6.5
Expected return on plan assets	(5.0)	(3.5)
Amortization of prior service cost	(0.1)	(0.1)
Recognized net actuarial loss	2.5	1.3
Net periodic benefit cost for Ball-sponsored plans	$ 5.8	$ 7.7