Taxes on Income - Provision (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended			24 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) subsidiary	Dec. 31, 2012 subsidiary item
Earnings before income taxes:
U.S									$ (381.0)	$ 47.0	$ 280.0
Foreign									506.0	299.0	366.0
Earnings before taxes	$ 92.0	$ 50.0	$ 192.0	$ (209.0)	$ 63.0	$ 17.0	$ 238.0	$ 28.0	125.0	346.0	646.0
Current
U.S.									(3.0)	26.0	51.0
State and local									27.0	7.0	18.0
Foreign									143.0	76.0	69.0
Total current									167.0	109.0	138.0
Deferred
U.S.									(67.0)	(38.0)	9.0
State and local									(17.0)	(4.0)	(1.0)
Foreign									(209.0)	(20.0)	4.0
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total									(293.0)	(62.0)	12.0
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total		23.0	(114.0)						(126.0)	47.0	150.0
Income tax provision reconciliation
Statutory U.S. federal income tax									44.0	121.0	226.0
Increase (decrease) due to:
Foreign tax rate differences including tax holidays									(71.0)	(51.0)	(57.0)
Permanent difference on business dispositions									(62.0)
Foreign subsidiaries restructuring									(145.0)
Non-deductible transaction costs									52.0
U.S. state and local taxes, net									6.0	2.0	7.0
U.S. taxes on foreign earnings, net of tax deductions and credits									21.0	2.0	12.0
U.S. manufacturing deduction										(4.0)	(7.0)
U.S. research and development tax credits									(9.0)	(15.0)	(9.0)
Uncertain tax positions, including interest									3.0	(4.0)	(8.0)
Company and trust-owned life insurance									(6.0)	(2.0)	(5.0)
Change in valuation allowances									46.0
Benefit from foreign equity compensation									(5.0)
Other, net										(2.0)	(9.0)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total		$ 23.0	$ (114.0)						$ (126.0)	$ 47.0	$ 150.0
Effective tax rate expressed as a percentage of pre-tax earnings									(100.80%)	13.60%	23.20%
Foreign income taxes
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	4,739.0				$ 4,557.0				$ 4,739.0	$ 4,557.0
Ball's Serbian subsidiary
Foreign income taxes
Tax relief as a percentage of the additional local investment									80.00%
Period Of Tax Relief									10 years
Tax relief remaining balance									$ 13.0
Brazilian Subsidiary (Member)
Foreign income taxes
Number of subsidiaries granted two tax holidays | subsidiary												1
Number of tax holidays granted | item												2
Percent of tax exemption												19.00%
Income tax reduction due to tax holidays									0.0	16.0	$ 16.0
New Brazilian Subsidiaries (Member)
Foreign income taxes
Income tax reduction due to tax holidays									20.0
Polish Subsidiary
Foreign income taxes
Period Of Tax Relief											10 years
Tax relief remaining balance									32.0
Number of subsidiaries granted a tax holiday | subsidiary											1
Polish Subsidiary | Maximum
Foreign income taxes
Income tax reduction due to tax holidays											$ 34.0
Canada And PRC Subsidiaries
Foreign income taxes
Net US taxes provided on foreign earnings									21.0	$ 2.0	$ 12.0
Non U S Subsidiaries (Member)
Foreign income taxes
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	$ 2,600.0								$ 2,600.0