Business Consolidation and Other Activities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Business consolidation and other activities
Business consolidation and other activities	$ (55)	$ (267)
Currency exchange contracts	(3)	1
Senior Notes 4.375 Percent, due December 2020
Business consolidation and other activities
Face amount of debt		1,000
Ball Corporation
Business consolidation and other activities
Business consolidation and other activities	(51)	(260)
Other
Business consolidation and other activities
Business consolidation and other activities	(61)	(246)
Operating Segments \| Metal beverage packaging, North And Central America
Business consolidation and other activities
Business consolidation and other activities	(4)	(3)
Professional Services And Other Costs	1	3
Operating Segments \| Metal beverage packaging, North And Central America \| Reidsville North Carolina Plant
Business consolidation and other activities
Plant closure costs of employee severance and accelerated depreciation	3
Operating Segments \| Metal beverage packaging, South America
Business consolidation and other activities
Business consolidation and other activities	3
Professional Services And Other Costs	3
Operating Segments \| Metal beverage packaging, Europe
Business consolidation and other activities
Business consolidation and other activities	(3)	(4)
Professional Services And Other Costs	1
Operating Segments \| Metal beverage packaging, Europe \| Rexam
Business consolidation and other activities
Professional Services And Other Costs	2	4
Operating Segments \| Food and aerosol packaging
Business consolidation and other activities
Business consolidation and other activities	10	(14)
Charges for insignificant items		5
Professional Services And Other Costs	2
Operating Segments \| Food and aerosol packaging \| Weirton West Virginia Plant
Business consolidation and other activities
Plant closure costs comprised of employee severance, pension and other benefits, asset impairments and facility shut down and disposal costs		9
Operating Segments \| Food and aerosol packaging \| Weirton West Virginia Plant \| Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Business consolidation and other activities
Facility shutdown costs and accelerated depreciation	3
Operating Segments \| Food and aerosol packaging \| Hubbard Ohio Plant \| Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Business consolidation and other activities
Gain (loss) on dispositions	15
Corporate and other
Business consolidation and other activities
Professional Services And Other Costs		2
Corporate and other \| Rexam
Business consolidation and other activities
Professional Services And Other Costs		24
Recognized gains (losses) associated with collar and option contracts		(88)
Corporate and other \| Cross-currency swap
Business consolidation and other activities
Foreign currency unrealized loss		36
Corporate and other \| Other
Business consolidation and other activities
Professional Services And Other Costs	6
Corporate and other \| Other \| Rexam
Business consolidation and other activities
Professional Services And Other Costs	5
Compensation arrangement expense	9
Divestment Business \| Corporate and other \| Rexam
Business consolidation and other activities
Foreign currency translation losses		$ 96
Divestment Business \| Corporate and other \| Other \| Ball Corporation \| Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Business consolidation and other activities
Gain (loss) on dispositions	(14)
Expense of indemnifications of uncertain tax positions	$ 27

This element Represents of acquisition professional service and other costs.

No definition available.

Name:	bll_BusinessCombinationProfessionalServiceAndOtherCosts
Namespace Prefix:	bll_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the Entity's recognized gains and losses associated with collar and option contracts designed to reduce exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bll_BusinessCombinationRecognizedGainLossAssociatedWithCollarAndOptionContracts
Namespace Prefix:	bll_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of business exit costs comprised of facility shutdown costs and accelerated depreciation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bll_BusinessExitCostsFacilityShutdownCostsAndAcceleratedDepreciation
Namespace Prefix:	bll_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents charges during the period related to insignificant items.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bll_BusinessExitCostsInsignificantItems
Namespace Prefix:	bll_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of business exit costs during the period comprise of employee severance and accelerated depreciation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bll_BusinessExitCostsSeveranceAndAcceleratedDepreciation
Namespace Prefix:	bll_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of business exit costs during the period, comprised of employee severance, pension and other benefits, asset impairments, and facility shut down and disposal costs.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bll_BusinessExitCostsSeverancePensionAndOtherBenefitsAssetImpairmentFacilityShutDownAndDisposalCosts
Namespace Prefix:	bll_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of expenses for indemnifications of uncertain tax positions associated with the sale of the Divestment Business.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bll_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationIndemnificationsOfUncertainTaxPositions
Namespace Prefix:	bll_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate amount provided for estimated restructuring charges, remediation costs, and asset impairment loss during an accounting period. Also includes separately identified items such as acquisition costs, etc.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bll_RestructuringAndOtherActivities
Namespace Prefix:	bll_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before tax of gain (loss) recognized on the sale or disposal of a disposal group. Excludes discontinued operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68055307&loc=d3e2443-110228

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64862545&loc=d3e2941-110230

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposal
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Costs and payments related to employee benefits and equity-based compensation, such as pension expense and contributions, other postretirement benefits expense and payments, stock or unit options expense, and amortization of restricted stock or unit.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeBenefitsAndShareBasedCompensation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of net gains or losses on foreign currency cash flow hedges reclassified during the period to earnings from accumulated other comprehensive income upon the hedged transaction affecting earnings.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4C
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64837297&loc=SL5624171-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyCashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassifiedToEarningsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount before tax of foreign currency transaction realized gain (loss) recognized in the income statement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450222&loc=d3e30840-110895

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64836518&loc=d3e30690-110894

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64836518&loc=d3e30700-110894

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossRealized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount before tax of foreign currency transaction unrealized gain (loss) recognized in the income statement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64836518&loc=d3e30690-110894

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64836518&loc=d3e30700-110894

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450222&loc=d3e30840-110895

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossUnrealized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bll_SeniorNotes4.375PercentDueDecember2020Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bll_NonReportableSegmentsAndOtherBusinessActivitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bll_MetalBeveragePackagingNorthAndCentralAmericaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=bll_ReidsvilleNorthCarolinaPlantMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bll_MetalBeveragePackagingSouthAmericaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bll_MetalBeveragePackagingEuropeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=bll_RexamPlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bll_MetalFoodAndHouseholdProductsPackagingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=bll_WeirtonWestVirginiaPlantMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupClassificationAxis=us-gaap_DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=bll_HubbardOhioPlantMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_CurrencySwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=bll_MetalBeveragePackingBusinessMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: