Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Earnings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Ownership interest in guarantor subsidiaries (as a percent)			100.00%
Net sales	$ 2,815	$ 2,097	$ 6,600	$ 6,192
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(2,338)	(1,690)	(5,351)	(5,026)
Depreciation and amortization	(147)	(72)	(299)	(212)
Selling, general and administrative	(135)	(107)	(348)	(340)
Business consolidation and other activities	(79)	(152)	(319)	(138)
Total costs and expenses	(2,699)	(2,021)	(6,317)	(5,716)
Earnings before interest and taxes	116	76	283	476
Interest expense	(80)	(38)	(159)	(107)
Debt refinancing and other costs	(2)	(21)	(108)	(86)
Total interest expense	(82)	(59)	(267)	(193)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	34	17	16	283
Tax (provision) benefit	(38)	31	191	(48)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	7	2	6	3
Net earnings	3	50	213	238
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3)	(5)	(3)	(12)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation		45	210	226
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	(24)	28	233	128
Eliminating Adjustments
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	(88)	(13)	(171)	(35)
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	88	13	171	35
Selling, general and administrative	(1)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	(316)	(192)	(302)	(496)
Total costs and expenses	(229)	(179)	(131)	(461)
Earnings before interest and taxes	(317)	(192)	(302)	(496)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	(317)	(192)	(302)	(496)
Net earnings	(317)	(192)	(302)	(496)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	(317)	(192)	(302)	(496)
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	(277)	(158)	(345)	(291)
Ball Corporation | Reportable Legal Entities
Costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization	(2)	(1)	(4)	(4)
Selling, general and administrative	(31)	(14)	(63)	(60)
Business consolidation and other activities	(154)	(129)	355	(105)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	308	129	(57)	341
Intercompany	78	51	189	153
Total costs and expenses	199	36	420	325
Earnings before interest and taxes	199	36	420	325
Interest expense	(66)	(37)	(141)	(103)
Debt refinancing and other costs		(21)	(97)	(84)
Total interest expense	(66)	(58)	(238)	(187)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	133	(22)	182	138
Tax (provision) benefit	(133)	67	28	88
Net earnings		45	210	226
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation		45	210	226
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	(24)	28	233	128
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	1,214	1,264	3,495	3,729
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(992)	(1,039)	(2,854)	(3,085)
Depreciation and amortization	(33)	(34)	(104)	(98)
Selling, general and administrative	(43)	(45)	(126)	(130)
Business consolidation and other activities	(7)	(20)	(30)	(21)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	8	63	359	155
Intercompany	(44)	(44)	(131)	(130)
Total costs and expenses	(1,111)	(1,119)	(2,886)	(3,309)
Earnings before interest and taxes	103	145	609	420
Interest expense		1	(1)	4
Total interest expense		1	(1)	4
Earnings (loss) before taxes	103	146	608	424
Tax (provision) benefit	56	(20)	6	(88)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	1	1		1
Net earnings	160	127	614	337
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	160	127	614	337
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	140	110	651	236
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	1,689	846	3,276	2,498
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(1,434)	(664)	(2,668)	(1,976)
Depreciation and amortization	(112)	(37)	(191)	(110)
Selling, general and administrative	(60)	(48)	(159)	(150)
Business consolidation and other activities	82	(3)	(644)	(12)
Intercompany	(34)	(7)	(58)	(23)
Total costs and expenses	(1,558)	(759)	(3,720)	(2,271)
Earnings before interest and taxes	131	87	(444)	227
Interest expense	(14)	(2)	(17)	(8)
Debt refinancing and other costs	(2)		(11)	(2)
Total interest expense	(16)	(2)	(28)	(10)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	115	85	(472)	217
Tax (provision) benefit	39	(16)	157	(48)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	6	1	6	2
Net earnings	160	70	(309)	171
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3)	(5)	(3)	(12)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	157	65	(312)	159
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	$ 137	$ 48	$ (306)	$ 55