Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Earnings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Ownership interest in guarantor subsidiaries (as a percent)									100.00%
Net sales	$ 2,523.0	$ 2,752.0	$ 2,030.0	$ 1,756.0	$ 1,805.0	$ 2,097.0	$ 2,172.0	$ 1,923.0	$ 9,061.0	$ 7,997.0	$ 8,570.0
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)		(2,275.0)							(7,296.0)	(6,460.0)	(6,903.0)
Depreciation and amortization									(453.0)	(286.0)	(281.0)
Selling, general and administrative									(512.0)	(450.0)	(466.0)
Business consolidation and other activities		63.0	(28.0)						(337.0)	(195.0)	(81.0)
Total costs and expenses									(8,598.0)	(7,391.0)	(7,731.0)
Earnings before interest and taxes		132.0	279.0						463.0	606.0	839.0
Interest expense									(229.0)	(143.0)	(160.0)
Debt refinancing and other costs									(109.0)	(117.0)	(33.0)
Total interest expense									(338.0)	(260.0)	(193.0)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	92.0	50.0	192.0	(209.0)	63.0	17.0	238.0	28.0	125.0	346.0	646.0
Tax (provision) benefit		(23.0)	114.0						126.0	(47.0)	(150.0)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax									15.0	4.0	2.0
Net earnings		34.0	307.0						266.0	303.0	498.0
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests									(3.0)	(22.0)	(28.0)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	$ 52.0	$ 31.0	$ 307.0	$ (127.0)	$ 55.0	$ 45.0	$ 160.0	$ 21.0	263.0	281.0	470.0
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation									(38.0)	163.0	198.0
Eliminating Adjustments
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales									(226.0)	(50.0)	(12.0)
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)									226.0	50.0	12.0
Equity in results of subsidiaries									(1,162.0)	(668.0)	(735.0)
Total costs and expenses									(936.0)	(618.0)	(723.0)
Earnings before interest and taxes									(1,162.0)	(668.0)	(735.0)
Earnings (loss) before taxes									(1,162.0)	(668.0)	(735.0)
Net earnings									(1,162.0)	(668.0)	(735.0)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation									(1,162.0)	(668.0)	(735.0)
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation									(630.0)	(428.0)	(301.0)
Guarantees Relating to Senior Notes
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales									9,061.0	7,997.0	8,570.0
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)									(7,296.0)	(6,460.0)	(6,903.0)
Depreciation and amortization									(453.0)	(286.0)	(281.0)
Selling, general and administrative									(512.0)	(450.0)	(466.0)
Business consolidation and other activities									(337.0)	(195.0)	(81.0)
Total costs and expenses									(8,598.0)	(7,391.0)	(7,731.0)
Earnings before interest and taxes									463.0	606.0	839.0
Interest expense									(229.0)	(143.0)	(160.0)
Debt refinancing and other costs									(109.0)	(117.0)	(33.0)
Total interest expense									(338.0)	(260.0)	(193.0)
Earnings (loss) before taxes									125.0	346.0	646.0
Tax (provision) benefit									126.0	(47.0)	(150.0)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax									15.0	4.0	2.0
Net earnings									266.0	303.0	498.0
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests									(3.0)	(22.0)	(28.0)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation									263.0	281.0	470.0
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation									(38.0)	163.0	198.0
Guarantees Relating to Senior Notes | Eliminating Adjustments
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales									(225.0)	(50.0)	(12.0)
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)									225.0	50.0	12.0
Equity in results of subsidiaries									(1,151.0)	(668.0)	(735.0)
Total costs and expenses									(926.0)	(618.0)	(723.0)
Earnings before interest and taxes									(1,151.0)	(668.0)	(735.0)
Earnings (loss) before taxes									(1,151.0)	(668.0)	(735.0)
Net earnings									(1,151.0)	(668.0)	(735.0)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation									(1,151.0)	(668.0)	(735.0)
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation									(644.0)	(428.0)	(301.0)
Ball Corporation
Costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization									(5.0)	(6.0)	(6.0)
Selling, general and administrative									(58.0)	(80.0)	(77.0)
Business consolidation and other activities									(577.0)	(159.0)	(11.0)
Equity in results of subsidiaries									692.0	453.0	470.0
Intercompany									345.0	207.0	254.0
Total costs and expenses									397.0	415.0	630.0
Earnings before interest and taxes									397.0	415.0	630.0
Interest expense									(207.0)	(139.0)	(150.0)
Debt refinancing and other costs									(97.0)	(115.0)	(33.0)
Total interest expense									(304.0)	(254.0)	(183.0)
Earnings (loss) before taxes									93.0	161.0	447.0
Tax (provision) benefit									170.0	120.0	23.0
Net earnings									263.0	281.0	470.0
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation									263.0	281.0	470.0
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation									(38.0)	163.0	198.0
Ball Corporation | Guarantees Relating to Senior Notes
Costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization									(5.0)	(6.0)	(6.0)
Selling, general and administrative									(58.0)	(80.0)	(77.0)
Business consolidation and other activities									(577.0)	(159.0)	(11.0)
Equity in results of subsidiaries									692.0	453.0	470.0
Intercompany									345.0	207.0	254.0
Total costs and expenses									397.0	415.0	630.0
Earnings before interest and taxes									397.0	415.0	630.0
Interest expense									(207.0)	(139.0)	(150.0)
Debt refinancing and other costs									(97.0)	(115.0)	(33.0)
Total interest expense									(304.0)	(254.0)	(183.0)
Earnings (loss) before taxes									93.0	161.0	447.0
Tax (provision) benefit									170.0	120.0	23.0
Net earnings									263.0	281.0	470.0
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation									263.0	281.0	470.0
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation									(38.0)	163.0	198.0
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales									4,589.0	4,788.0	5,103.0
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)									(3,756.0)	(3,959.0)	(4,207.0)
Depreciation and amortization									(142.0)	(132.0)	(128.0)
Selling, general and administrative									(204.0)	(170.0)	(185.0)
Business consolidation and other activities									(49.0)	(18.0)	(67.0)
Equity in results of subsidiaries									503.0	215.0	265.0
Intercompany									(259.0)	(175.0)	(216.0)
Total costs and expenses									(3,907.0)	(4,239.0)	(4,538.0)
Earnings before interest and taxes									682.0	549.0	565.0
Interest expense										5.0	3.0
Total interest expense										5.0	3.0
Earnings (loss) before taxes									682.0	554.0	568.0
Tax (provision) benefit									(122.0)	(110.0)	(99.0)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax										2.0	1.0
Net earnings									560.0	446.0	470.0
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation									560.0	446.0	470.0
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation									296.0	328.0	210.0
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Guarantees Relating to Senior Notes
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales									4,589.0	4,788.0	5,103.0
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)									(3,756.0)	(3,959.0)	(4,207.0)
Depreciation and amortization									(142.0)	(132.0)	(128.0)
Selling, general and administrative									(171.0)	(170.0)	(185.0)
Business consolidation and other activities									(46.0)	(18.0)	(67.0)
Equity in results of subsidiaries									459.0	215.0	265.0
Intercompany									(245.0)	(175.0)	(216.0)
Total costs and expenses									(3,901.0)	(4,239.0)	(4,538.0)
Earnings before interest and taxes									688.0	549.0	565.0
Interest expense										5.0	3.0
Total interest expense										5.0	3.0
Earnings (loss) before taxes									688.0	554.0	568.0
Tax (provision) benefit									(67.0)	(110.0)	(99.0)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax										2.0	1.0
Net earnings									621.0	446.0	470.0
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation									621.0	446.0	470.0
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation									382.0	328.0	210.0
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales									4,698.0	3,259.0	3,479.0
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)									(3,766.0)	(2,551.0)	(2,708.0)
Depreciation and amortization									(306.0)	(148.0)	(147.0)
Selling, general and administrative									(250.0)	(200.0)	(204.0)
Business consolidation and other activities									289.0	(18.0)	(3.0)
Equity in results of subsidiaries									(33.0)
Intercompany									(86.0)	(32.0)	(38.0)
Total costs and expenses									(4,152.0)	(2,949.0)	(3,100.0)
Earnings before interest and taxes									546.0	310.0	379.0
Interest expense									(22.0)	(9.0)	(13.0)
Debt refinancing and other costs									(12.0)	(2.0)
Total interest expense									(34.0)	(11.0)	(13.0)
Earnings (loss) before taxes									512.0	299.0	366.0
Tax (provision) benefit									78.0	(57.0)	(74.0)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax									15.0	2.0	1.0
Net earnings									605.0	244.0	293.0
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests									(3.0)	(22.0)	(28.0)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation									602.0	222.0	265.0
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation									334.0	100.0	91.0
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Guarantees Relating to Senior Notes
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales									4,697.0	3,259.0	3,479.0
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)									(3,765.0)	(2,551.0)	(2,708.0)
Depreciation and amortization									(306.0)	(148.0)	(147.0)
Selling, general and administrative									(283.0)	(200.0)	(204.0)
Business consolidation and other activities									286.0	(18.0)	(3.0)
Intercompany									(100.0)	(32.0)	(38.0)
Total costs and expenses									(4,168.0)	(2,949.0)	(3,100.0)
Earnings before interest and taxes									529.0	310.0	379.0
Interest expense									(22.0)	(9.0)	(13.0)
Debt refinancing and other costs									(12.0)	(2.0)
Total interest expense									(34.0)	(11.0)	(13.0)
Earnings (loss) before taxes									495.0	299.0	366.0
Tax (provision) benefit									23.0	(57.0)	(74.0)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax									15.0	2.0	1.0
Net earnings									533.0	244.0	293.0
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests									(3.0)	(22.0)	(28.0)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation									530.0	222.0	265.0
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation									$ 262.0	$ 100.0	$ 91.0