Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Ownership interest in guarantor subsidiaries (as a percent)	100.00%
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	$ 1,923.1	$ 2,006.8
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(1,560.9)	(1,612.9)
Depreciation and amortization	(68.3)	(68.8)
Selling, general and administrative	(116.0)	(107.7)
Business consolidation and other activities	(52.0)
Total costs and expenses	(1,797.2)	(1,789.4)
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)
Earnings before taxes	27.5	144.1
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
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	(99.4)	77.7
Ball Corporation
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)		(0.1)
Depreciation and amortization	(1.3)	(1.5)
Selling, general and administrative	(23.9)	(22.7)
Business consolidation and other activities	(48.2)	(0.6)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	94.7	134.6
Intercompany	51.5	47.3
Total costs and expenses	72.8	157.0
Earnings before interest and taxes	72.8	157.0
Interest expense	(37.4)	(38.0)
Debt refinancing and other costs	(59.3)	(33.1)
Total interest expense	(96.7)	(71.1)
Earnings before taxes	(23.9)	85.9
Tax provision	44.6	7.6
Net earnings	20.7	93.5
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	20.7	93.5
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	(99.4)	77.7
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	1,144.5	1,171.8
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(946.7)	(972.1)
Depreciation and amortization	(32.1)	(30.8)
Selling, general and administrative	(40.3)	(43.5)
Business consolidation and other activities	(0.2)	(3.8)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	39.8	81.5
Intercompany	(42.2)	(43.1)
Total costs and expenses	(1,021.7)	(1,011.8)
Earnings before interest and taxes	122.8	160.0
Interest expense	1.6	0.5
Total interest expense	1.6	0.5
Earnings before taxes	124.4	160.5
Tax provision	(31.0)	(25.1)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	0.2	0.2
Net earnings	93.6	135.6
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	93.6	135.6
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	(27.5)	119.3
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	789.1	837.8
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(624.7)	(643.5)
Depreciation and amortization	(34.9)	(36.5)
Selling, general and administrative	(51.8)	(41.5)
Business consolidation and other activities	(3.6)	4.4
Intercompany	(9.3)	(4.2)
Total costs and expenses	(724.3)	(721.3)
Earnings before interest and taxes	64.8	116.5
Interest expense	(2.7)	(2.7)
Debt refinancing and other costs	(0.6)
Total interest expense	(3.3)	(2.7)
Earnings before taxes	61.5	113.8
Tax provision	(14.1)	(22.1)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	0.3	0.2
Net earnings	47.7	91.9
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6.8)	(11.4)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	40.9	80.5
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	(80.3)	62.5
Eliminating Adjustments
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	(10.5)	(2.8)
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	10.5	2.8
Equity in results of subsidiaries	(134.5)	(216.1)
Total costs and expenses	(124.0)	(213.3)
Earnings before interest and taxes	(134.5)	(216.1)
Earnings before taxes	(134.5)	(216.1)
Net earnings	(134.5)	(216.1)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	(134.5)	(216.1)
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	$ 107.8	$ (181.8)