Employee Benefit Obligations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Employee Benefit Obligations
Underfunded defined benefit pension liabilities	$ 705.1	$ 724.1
Less current portion and prepaid pension assets	(16.6)	(19.4)
Long-term defined benefit pension liability	688.5	704.7
Retiree medical and other postemployment benefits	147.8	169.0
Deferred compensation plans	280.8	272.2
Other	30.1	32.4
Employee benefit obligations	$ 1,147.2	1,178.3
Imposition of nondeductible excise tax, if a multiemployer defined benefit pension plan fails to satisfy certain minimum funding requirements (as a percent)	5.00%
Expected benefit payments
Years 2020 through 2025	$ 75.0
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at prior year end	2,159.3	1,988.8
Service cost	67.0	59.7	$ 60.8
Interest cost	75.6	87.7	79.2
Benefits paid	(127.9)	(84.1)
Net actuarial (gains) losses	(108.0)	289.4
Effect of exchange rates	(64.5)	(73.2)
Settlements/ curtailments/ special termination	3.8	(102.8)
Plan amendments and other	3.1	(6.2)
Benefit obligation at year end	2,008.4	2,159.3	1,988.8
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at the beginning of the period	1,435.2	1,386.9
Actual return on plan assets	(1.5)	113.6
Employer contributions	2.2	121.2
Contributions to unfunded German plans	18.1	22.2
Benefits paid	(127.9)	(84.1)
Effect of exchange rates	(22.8)	(21.8)
Settlements		(102.8)
Fair value of plan assets at the end of the period	1,303.3	1,435.2	1,386.9
Underfunded status	(705.1)	(724.1)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets
Prepaid pension cost	1.5	1.8
Defined benefit pension liabilities	(706.6)	(725.9)
Net amount recognized	(705.1)	(724.1)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income
Net actuarial loss	715.5	789.3
Net prior service cost (credit)	9.6	6.0
Tax effect and foreign exchange rates	(280.2)	(289.1)
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss)	444.9	506.2
Benefit plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets
Projected benefit obligation	1,721.1	1,856.2
Accumulated benefit obligation	1,640.3	1,766.3
Fair value of plan assets	1,022.6	1,138.5
Ball-sponsored plans:
Service cost	67.0	59.7	60.8
Interest cost	75.6	87.7	79.2
Expected return on plan assets	(98.9)	(99.6)	(94.0)
Amortization of prior service cost	(1.5)	(0.6)	(0.4)
Recognized net actuarial loss	48.2	37.7	50.3
Curtailment loss	4.9	45.3	7.8
Net periodic benefit cost for Ball-sponsored plans	95.3	130.2	103.7
Estimated actuarial net gain (loss) that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost during next fiscal year	(37.4)
Estimated prior service cost (benefit) that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss) into net periodic benefit cost during next fiscal year	1.4
Charge for settlements		102.8
Multi-employer plans:
Net periodic benefit cost, excluding curtailment loss	1.3	2.0	2.6
Curtailment loss			9.8
Net periodic benefit cost for multiemployer plans	1.3	2.0	12.4
Total net periodic benefit cost	96.6	132.2	116.1
Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Minimum
Expected benefit payments
2018	16.0
Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Funded plans
Expected benefit payments
2016	94.1
2017	97.4
2018	100.9
2019	104.5
2020	108.6
Years 2020 through 2025	584.0	584.0
Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Unfunded German plans | Minimum
Expected benefit payments
2016	16.0
2017	16.0
2019	16.0
2020	16.0
Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Unfunded German plans | Maximum
Expected benefit payments
2016	18.0
2017	18.0
2018	18.0
2019	18.0
2020	18.0
U.S.
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at prior year end	1,416.1	1,284.2
Service cost	52.1	46.3	48.7
Interest cost	57.2	62.0	55.2
Benefits paid	(99.9)	(51.4)
Net actuarial (gains) losses	(70.9)	184.0
Settlements/ curtailments/ special termination	3.8	(102.8)
Plan amendments and other	3.3	(6.2)
Benefit obligation at year end	1,361.7	1,416.1	1,284.2
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at the beginning of the period	1,098.0	1,109.5
Actual return on plan assets	(11.1)	48.4
Employer contributions	0.6	94.3
Benefits paid	(99.9)	(51.4)
Settlements		(102.8)
Noncash charge for settlement		45.3
Fair value of plan assets at the end of the period	987.6	1,098.0	1,109.5
Underfunded status	(374.1)	(318.1)
Accumulated benefit obligation	1,301.5	1,355.2
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets
Defined benefit pension liabilities	(374.1)	(318.1)
Net amount recognized	(374.1)	(318.1)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income
Net actuarial loss	586.7	606.3
Net prior service cost (credit)	11.2	7.9
Tax effect and foreign exchange rates	(253.1)	(239.0)
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss)	344.8	375.2
Benefit plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets
Projected benefit obligation	1,361.7	1,416.0
Accumulated benefit obligation	1,301.5	1,355.2
Fair value of plan assets	987.6	1,098.0
Ball-sponsored plans:
Service cost	52.1	46.3	48.7
Interest cost	57.2	62.0	55.2
Expected return on plan assets	(79.2)	(82.6)	(77.3)
Amortization of prior service cost	(1.1)	(0.1)
Recognized net actuarial loss	39.0	29.5	42.5
Curtailment loss	4.9	45.3	6.1
Net periodic benefit cost for Ball-sponsored plans	72.9	100.4	75.2
Charge for settlements		102.8
Multi-employer plans:
Net periodic benefit cost, excluding curtailment loss	1.3	2.0	2.6
Curtailment loss			9.8
Net periodic benefit cost for multiemployer plans	1.3	2.0	12.4
Total net periodic benefit cost	74.2	102.4	87.6
Foreign.
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at prior year end	743.2	704.6
Service cost	14.9	13.4	12.1
Interest cost	18.4	25.7	24.0
Benefits paid	(28.0)	(32.7)
Net actuarial (gains) losses	(37.1)	105.4
Effect of exchange rates	(64.5)	(73.2)
Plan amendments and other	(0.2)
Benefit obligation at year end	646.7	743.2	704.6
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at the beginning of the period	337.2	277.4
Actual return on plan assets	9.6	65.2
Employer contributions	1.6	26.9
Contributions to unfunded German plans	18.1	22.2
Benefits paid	(28.0)	(32.7)
Effect of exchange rates	(22.8)	(21.8)
Fair value of plan assets at the end of the period	315.7	337.2	277.4
Underfunded status	(331.0)	(406.0)
Accumulated benefit obligation	592.5	675.1
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets
Prepaid pension cost	1.5	1.8
Defined benefit pension liabilities	(332.5)	(407.8)
Net amount recognized	(331.0)	(406.0)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income
Net actuarial loss	128.8	183.0
Net prior service cost (credit)	(1.6)	(1.9)
Tax effect and foreign exchange rates	(27.1)	(50.1)
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss)	100.1	131.0
Benefit plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets
Projected benefit obligation	359.4	440.2
Accumulated benefit obligation	338.8	411.1
Fair value of plan assets	35.0	40.5
Ball-sponsored plans:
Service cost	14.9	13.4	12.1
Interest cost	18.4	25.7	24.0
Expected return on plan assets	(19.7)	(17.0)	(16.7)
Amortization of prior service cost	(0.4)	(0.5)	(0.4)
Recognized net actuarial loss	9.2	8.2	7.8
Curtailment loss			1.7
Net periodic benefit cost for Ball-sponsored plans	22.4	29.8	28.5
Multi-employer plans:
Total net periodic benefit cost	22.4	29.8	28.5
Germany.
Change in plan assets:
Underfunded status	317.1	393.9
Other post retirement benefits
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at prior year end	154.1	154.1	155.4
Service cost	1.5	1.4	1.7
Interest cost	6.0	7.3	6.6
Benefits paid	(8.7)	(11.4)
Net actuarial (gains) losses	(17.3)	3.1
Special termination benefits	2.1		1.9
Effect of exchange rates	(2.9)	(1.7)
Benefit obligation at year end	134.8	154.1	154.1
Change in plan assets:
Benefits paid	(8.7)	(11.4)
Ball-sponsored plans:
Service cost	1.5	1.4	1.7
Interest cost	6.0	7.3	6.6
Amortization of prior service cost	(0.6)	(0.5)	(0.5)
Recognized net actuarial loss	(1.6)	(1.5)	(0.6)
Net periodic benefit cost for Ball-sponsored plans	7.4	$ 6.7	$ 9.1
Estimated actuarial net gain (loss) that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost during next fiscal year	2.5
Estimated prior service cost (benefit) that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss) into net periodic benefit cost during next fiscal year	(0.6)
Excluding German Plans
Expected benefit payments
Contributions to pension plans	$ 31.0