Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Ownership interest in guarantor subsidiaries (as a percent)									100.00%
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	$ 1,804.6	$ 2,097.0	$ 2,172.3	$ 1,923.1	$ 2,032.4	$ 2,238.9	$ 2,291.9	$ 2,006.8	$ 7,997.0	$ 8,570.0	$ 8,468.1
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)									(6,460.3)	(6,903.5)	(6,875.4)
Depreciation and amortization									(285.5)	(280.9)	(299.9)
Selling, general and administrative									(451.3)	(466.5)	(418.6)
Business consolidation and other activities									(194.7)	(80.5)	(78.8)
Total costs and expenses									(7,391.8)	(7,731.4)	(7,672.7)
Earnings before interest and taxes									605.2	838.6	795.4
Interest expense									(143.2)	(159.9)	(183.8)
Debt refinancing and other costs									(116.5)	(33.1)	(28.0)
Total interest expense									(259.7)	(193.0)	(211.8)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	62.6	17.6	237.8	27.5	98.3	187.9	215.3	144.1	345.5	645.6	583.6
Tax (provision) benefit									(47.0)	(149.9)	(149.6)
Net earnings from continuing operations									302.9	498.0	434.6
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax									4.4	2.3	0.6
Discontinued operations, net of tax											0.4
Net earnings									302.9	498.0	435.0
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests									(22.0)	(28.0)	(28.2)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	$ 55.3	$ 44.5	$ 160.4	$ 20.7	$ 76.0	$ 147.4	$ 153.1	$ 93.5	280.9	470.0	406.8
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Ball Corporation									163.1	197.9	519.0
Eliminating Adjustments
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales									(49.9)	(11.9)	(21.6)
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)									49.9	11.9	21.6
Equity in results of subsidiaries									(668.3)	(735.6)	(675.3)
Total costs and expenses									(618.4)	(723.7)	(653.7)
Earnings before interest and taxes									(668.3)	(735.6)	(675.3)
Earnings (loss) before taxes									(668.3)	(735.6)	(675.3)
Net earnings from continuing operations											(675.3)
Net earnings									(668.3)	(735.6)	(675.3)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation									(668.3)	(735.6)	(675.3)
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Ball Corporation									(428.2)	(301.2)	(794.5)
Ball Corporation
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)									(0.3)		0.1
Depreciation and amortization									(5.5)	(6.4)	(7.5)
Selling, general and administrative									(80.2)	(77.4)	(81.4)
Business consolidation and other activities									(159.4)	(11.2)	(0.7)
Equity in results of subsidiaries									452.8	470.2	426.9
Intercompany									206.8	254.8	234.1
Total costs and expenses									414.2	630.0	571.5
Earnings before interest and taxes									414.2	630.0	571.5
Interest expense									(139.2)	(150.0)	(172.0)
Debt refinancing and other costs									(114.6)	(33.1)	(27.9)
Total interest expense									(253.8)	(183.1)	(199.9)
Earnings (loss) before taxes									160.4	446.9	371.6
Tax (provision) benefit									120.5	23.1	35.2
Net earnings from continuing operations											406.8
Net earnings									280.9	470.0	406.8
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation									280.9	470.0	406.8
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Ball Corporation									163.1	197.9	519.0
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales									4,788.0	5,102.6	5,125.5
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)									(3,958.5)	(4,207.3)	(4,246.7)
Depreciation and amortization									(132.5)	(127.5)	(126.7)
Selling, general and administrative									(170.2)	(185.5)	(179.9)
Business consolidation and other activities									(18.6)	(66.6)	(88.5)
Equity in results of subsidiaries									215.5	265.4	248.4
Intercompany									(174.9)	(215.8)	(188.3)
Total costs and expenses									(4,239.2)	(4,537.3)	(4,581.7)
Earnings before interest and taxes									548.8	565.3	543.8
Interest expense									5.5	3.4	2.5
Total interest expense									5.5	3.4	2.5
Earnings (loss) before taxes									554.3	568.7	546.3
Tax (provision) benefit									(110.7)	(99.4)	(113.8)
Net earnings from continuing operations											432.9
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax									2.3	1.2	0.4
Discontinued operations, net of tax											0.4
Net earnings									445.9	470.5	433.3
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation									445.9	470.5	433.3
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Ball Corporation									327.8	209.6	533.2
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales									3,258.9	3,479.3	3,364.2
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)									(2,551.4)	(2,708.1)	(2,650.4)
Depreciation and amortization									(147.5)	(147.0)	(165.7)
Selling, general and administrative									(200.9)	(203.6)	(157.3)
Business consolidation and other activities									(16.7)	(2.7)	10.4
Intercompany									(31.9)	(39.0)	(45.8)
Total costs and expenses									(2,948.4)	(3,100.4)	(3,008.8)
Earnings before interest and taxes									310.5	378.9	355.4
Interest expense									(9.5)	(13.3)	(14.3)
Debt refinancing and other costs									(1.9)		(0.1)
Total interest expense									(11.4)	(13.3)	(14.4)
Earnings (loss) before taxes									299.1	365.6	341.0
Tax (provision) benefit									(56.8)	(73.6)	(71.0)
Net earnings from continuing operations											270.2
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax									2.1	1.1	0.2
Net earnings									244.4	293.1	270.2
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests									(22.0)	(28.0)	(28.2)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation									222.4	265.1	242.0
Comprehensive earnings attributable to Ball Corporation									$ 100.4	$ 91.6	$ 261.3