Business Segment Information (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) segment	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Business Segment Information
Number of reportable segments | segment	5
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,473	$ 1,756
Reconciling items
Other	(31)	(31)
Business consolidation and other activities	(55)	(267)
Amortization of acquired Rexam intangibles	(32)
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes	152	(110)
Interest expense	(68)	(38)
Debt refinancing and other costs		(61)
Total interest expense	(68)	(99)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	84	(209)
Tax (provision) benefit	(22)	83
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	8	(1)
Net earnings (loss)	70	(127)
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	68	(127)
Undistributed corporate expenses	45	22
Other
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Net sales	137	76
Reconciling items
Business consolidation and other activities	(61)	(246)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Net sales	2,336	1,680
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Reportable segment comparable operating earnings	270	188
Operating Segments | Metal beverage packaging, North And Central America
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Net sales	949	734
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Reportable segment comparable operating earnings	123	93
Reconciling items
Business consolidation and other activities	(4)	(3)
Operating Segments | Metal beverage packaging, South America
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Net sales	371	126
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Reportable segment comparable operating earnings	58	18
Reconciling items
Business consolidation and other activities	3
Operating Segments | Metal beverage packaging, Europe
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Net sales	508	356
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Reportable segment comparable operating earnings	47	39
Reconciling items
Business consolidation and other activities	(3)	(4)
Operating Segments | Food and aerosol packaging
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Net sales	272	284
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Reportable segment comparable operating earnings	21	20
Reconciling items
Business consolidation and other activities	10	(14)
Operating Segments | Aerospace
Segment Reporting Information, Revenue for Reportable Segment [Abstract]
Net sales	236	180
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Reportable segment comparable operating earnings	$ 21	$ 18