Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Earnings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Ownership interest in guarantor subsidiaries (as a percent)			100.00%
Net sales	$ 2,855	$ 2,030	$ 5,328	$ 3,785
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(2,270)	(1,596)	(4,245)	(3,012)
Depreciation and amortization	(229)	(78)	(377)	(153)
Selling, general and administrative	(128)	(105)	(271)	(213)
Business consolidation and other activities	(41)	28	(96)	(239)
Total costs and expenses	(2,668)	(1,751)	(4,989)	(3,617)
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes	187	279	339	168
Interest expense	(74)	(41)	(142)	(79)
Debt refinancing and other costs	(1)	(46)	(1)	(106)
Total interest expense	(75)	(87)	(143)	(185)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	112	192	196	(17)
Tax (provision) benefit	(22)	114	(44)	197
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	10	1	18
Net earnings	100	307	170	180
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1)		(3)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	99	307	167	180
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	(7)	323	189	227
Eliminating Adjustments
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	(49)	(58)	(64)	(83)
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	49	58	64	83
Equity in results of subsidiaries	(150)	194	(277)	74
Total costs and expenses	(101)	252	(213)	157
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes	(150)	194	(277)	74
Earnings (loss) before taxes	(150)	194	(277)	74
Net earnings	(150)	194	(277)	74
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	(150)	194	(277)	74
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	57	158	(249)	(9)
Guarantees Relating to Senior Notes
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	2,855	2,030	5,328	3,785
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(2,270)	(1,596)	(4,245)	(3,012)
Depreciation and amortization	(229)	(78)	(377)	(153)
Selling, general and administrative	(128)	(105)	(271)	(213)
Business consolidation and other activities	(41)	28	(96)	(239)
Total costs and expenses	(2,668)	(1,751)	(4,989)	(3,617)
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes	187	279	339	168
Interest expense	(74)	(41)	(142)	(79)
Debt refinancing and other costs	(1)	(46)	(1)	(106)
Total interest expense	(75)	(87)	(143)	(185)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	112	192	196	(17)
Tax (provision) benefit	(22)	114	(44)	197
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	10	1	18
Net earnings	100	307	170	180
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1)		(3)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	99	307	167	180
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	(7)	323	189	227
Guarantees Relating to Senior Notes | Eliminating Adjustments
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	(49)	(58)	(64)	(83)
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	49	58	64	83
Equity in results of subsidiaries	(167)	1,832	(286)	1,712
Total costs and expenses	(118)	1,890	(222)	1,795
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes	(167)	1,832	(286)	1,712
Earnings (loss) before taxes	(167)	1,832	(286)	1,712
Net earnings	(167)	1,832	(286)	1,712
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	(167)	1,832	(286)	1,712
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	45	1,803	(268)	1,636
Ball Corporation
Costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization	(2)	(1)	(3)	(2)
Selling, general and administrative	(55)	(13)	(100)	(32)
Business consolidation and other activities	(14)	770	(64)	510
Equity in results of subsidiaries	148	(481)	270	(396)
Intercompany	81	60	162	110
Total costs and expenses	158	335	265	190
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes	158	335	265	190
Interest expense	(68)	(38)	(134)	(75)
Debt refinancing and other costs		(36)		(96)
Total interest expense	(68)	(74)	(134)	(171)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	90	261	131	19
Tax (provision) benefit	9	46	36	161
Net earnings	99	307	167	180
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	99	307	167	180
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	(7)	323	189	227
Ball Corporation | Guarantees Relating to Senior Notes
Costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization	(2)	(1)	(3)	(2)
Selling, general and administrative	(55)	(13)	(100)	(32)
Business consolidation and other activities	(14)	770	(64)	510
Equity in results of subsidiaries	148	(481)	270	(396)
Intercompany	81	60	162	110
Total costs and expenses	158	335	265	190
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes	158	335	265	190
Interest expense	(68)	(38)	(134)	(75)
Debt refinancing and other costs		(36)		(96)
Total interest expense	(68)	(74)	(134)	(171)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	90	261	131	19
Tax (provision) benefit	9	46	36	161
Net earnings	99	307	167	180
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	99	307	167	180
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	(7)	323	189	227
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	1,273	1,206	2,388	2,281
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(1,066)	(975)	(1,969)	(1,862)
Depreciation and amortization	(37)	(36)	(73)	(71)
Selling, general and administrative	(37)	(42)	(79)	(82)
Business consolidation and other activities	(8)	(6)	(4)	(23)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	2	286	7	322
Intercompany	(45)	(44)	(87)	(87)
Total costs and expenses	(1,191)	(817)	(2,205)	(1,803)
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes	82	389	183	478
Interest expense	1	(1)	3	(1)
Total interest expense	1	(1)	3	(1)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	83	388	186	477
Tax (provision) benefit	(27)	(32)	(64)	(51)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	1	1	1
Net earnings	57	357	123	426
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	57	357	123	426
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	(45)	385	115	483
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Guarantees Relating to Senior Notes
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	1,273	1,206	2,388	2,281
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(1,066)	(975)	(1,969)	(1,862)
Depreciation and amortization	(37)	(36)	(73)	(71)
Selling, general and administrative	(16)	(42)	(58)	(82)
Business consolidation and other activities	(9)	(19)	(5)	(23)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	13	(541)	17	(505)
Intercompany	(43)	(43)	(83)	(84)
Total costs and expenses	(1,158)	(1,656)	(2,171)	(2,627)
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes	115	(450)	217	(346)
Interest expense	1	(1)	3	(1)
Total interest expense	1	(1)	3	(1)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	116	(451)	220	(347)
Tax (provision) benefit	(26)	(32)	(64)	(51)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	1	1	1
Net earnings	91	(482)	157	(398)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	91	(482)	157	(398)
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	(15)	(461)	154	(348)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	1,631	882	3,004	1,587
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(1,253)	(679)	(2,340)	(1,233)
Depreciation and amortization	(190)	(41)	(301)	(80)
Selling, general and administrative	(36)	(50)	(92)	(99)
Business consolidation and other activities	(19)	(736)	(28)	(726)
Equity in results of subsidiaries		1
Intercompany	(36)	(16)	(75)	(23)
Total costs and expenses	(1,534)	(1,521)	(2,836)	(2,161)
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes	97	(639)	168	(574)
Interest expense	(7)	(2)	(11)	(3)
Debt refinancing and other costs	(1)	(10)	(1)	(10)
Total interest expense	(8)	(12)	(12)	(13)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	89	(651)	156	(587)
Tax (provision) benefit	(4)	100	(16)	87
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	9		17
Net earnings	94	(551)	157	(500)
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1)		(3)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	93	(551)	154	(500)
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	(12)	(543)	134	(474)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Guarantees Relating to Senior Notes
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	1,631	882	3,004	1,587
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(1,253)	(679)	(2,340)	(1,233)
Depreciation and amortization	(190)	(41)	(301)	(80)
Selling, general and administrative	(57)	(50)	(113)	(99)
Business consolidation and other activities	(18)	(723)	(27)	(726)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	6	(810)	(1)	(811)
Intercompany	(38)	(17)	(79)	(26)
Total costs and expenses	(1,550)	(2,320)	(2,861)	(2,975)
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes	81	(1,438)	143	(1,388)
Interest expense	(7)	(2)	(11)	(3)
Debt refinancing and other costs	(1)	(10)	(1)	(10)
Total interest expense	(8)	(12)	(12)	(13)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	73	(1,450)	131	(1,401)
Tax (provision) benefit	(5)	100	(16)	87
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	9		17
Net earnings	77	(1,350)	132	(1,314)
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1)		(3)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	76	(1,350)	129	(1,314)
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	$ (30)	$ (1,342)	$ 114	$ (1,288)