Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Earnings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Ownership interest in guarantor subsidiaries (as a percent)			100.00%
Net sales	$ 2,908	$ 2,752	$ 8,236	$ 6,537
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(2,338)	(2,275)	(6,583)	(5,288)
Depreciation and amortization	(162)	(147)	(539)	(299)
Selling, general and administrative	(127)	(135)	(398)	(348)
Business consolidation and other activities	(157)	(63)	(253)	(302)
Total costs and expenses	(2,784)	(2,620)	(7,773)	(6,237)
Earnings before interest and taxes	124	132	463	300
Interest expense	(74)	(80)	(216)	(159)
Debt refinancing and other costs		(2)	(1)	(108)
Total interest expense	(74)	(82)	(217)	(267)
Earnings before taxes	50	50	246	33
Tax (provision) benefit	(4)	(23)	(48)	174
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	5	7	23	6
Net earnings	51	34	221	213
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3)	(3)	(6)	(3)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	48	31	215	210
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	42	7	231	233
Eliminating Adjustments
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	(18)	(88)	(82)	(171)
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	18	88	82	171
Equity in results of subsidiaries	(43)	(378)	(320)	(302)
Total costs and expenses	(25)	(290)	(238)	(131)
Earnings before interest and taxes	(43)	(378)	(320)	(302)
Earnings before taxes	(43)	(378)	(320)	(302)
Net earnings	(43)	(378)	(320)	(302)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	(43)	(378)	(320)	(302)
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	(34)	(338)	(283)	(345)
Guarantees Relating to Senior Notes
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	2,908	2,752	8,236	6,537
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(2,338)	(2,275)	(6,583)	(5,288)
Depreciation and amortization	(162)	(147)	(539)	(299)
Selling, general and administrative	(127)	(135)	(398)	(348)
Business consolidation and other activities	(157)	(63)	(253)	(302)
Total costs and expenses	(2,784)	(2,620)	(7,773)	(6,237)
Earnings before interest and taxes	124	132	463	300
Interest expense	(74)	(80)	(216)	(159)
Debt refinancing and other costs		(2)	(1)	(108)
Total interest expense	(74)	(82)	(217)	(267)
Earnings before taxes	50	50	246	33
Tax (provision) benefit	(4)	(23)	(48)	174
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	5	7	23	6
Net earnings	51	34	221	213
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3)	(3)	(6)	(3)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	48	31	215	210
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	42	7	231	233
Guarantees Relating to Senior Notes | Eliminating Adjustments
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	(18)	(88)	(82)	(171)
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	18	88	82	171
Equity in results of subsidiaries	8	(688)	(279)	1,025
Total costs and expenses	26	(600)	(197)	1,196
Earnings before interest and taxes	8	(688)	(279)	1,025
Earnings before taxes	8	(688)	(279)	1,025
Net earnings	8	(688)	(279)	1,025
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	8	(688)	(279)	1,025
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	13	(651)	(256)	986
Ball Corporation
Costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization	(1)	(2)	(5)	(4)
Selling, general and administrative	(41)	(31)	(141)	(63)
Business consolidation and other activities	(18)	(154)	(82)	355
Equity in results of subsidiaries	72	339	343	(57)
Intercompany	79	78	241	189
Total costs and expenses	91	230	356	420
Earnings before interest and taxes	91	230	356	420
Interest expense	(71)	(66)	(205)	(141)
Debt refinancing and other costs				(97)
Total interest expense	(71)	(66)	(205)	(238)
Earnings before taxes	20	164	151	182
Tax (provision) benefit	28	(133)	64	28
Net earnings	48	31	215	210
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	48	31	215	210
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	42	7	231	233
Ball Corporation | Guarantees Relating to Senior Notes
Costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization	(1)	(2)	(5)	(4)
Selling, general and administrative	(41)	(31)	(141)	(63)
Business consolidation and other activities	(18)	(154)	(82)	355
Equity in results of subsidiaries	72	339	343	(57)
Intercompany	79	78	241	189
Total costs and expenses	91	230	356	420
Earnings before interest and taxes	91	230	356	420
Interest expense	(71)	(66)	(205)	(141)
Debt refinancing and other costs				(97)
Total interest expense	(71)	(66)	(205)	(238)
Earnings before taxes	20	164	151	182
Tax (provision) benefit	28	(133)	64	28
Net earnings	48	31	215	210
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	48	31	215	210
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	42	7	231	233
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	1,232	1,214	3,620	3,495
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(1,003)	(992)	(2,972)	(2,854)
Depreciation and amortization	(38)	(33)	(111)	(104)
Selling, general and administrative	(40)	(43)	(118)	(126)
Business consolidation and other activities	(35)	(7)	(38)	(30)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	(29)	39	(23)	359
Intercompany	(42)	(44)	(129)	(131)
Total costs and expenses	(1,187)	(1,080)	(3,391)	(2,886)
Earnings before interest and taxes	45	134	229	609
Interest expense	1		4	(1)
Total interest expense	1		4	(1)
Earnings before taxes	46	134	233	608
Tax (provision) benefit	(19)	56	(83)	6
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax		1	1
Net earnings	27	191	151	614
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	27	191	151	614
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	21	171	137	651
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Guarantees Relating to Senior Notes
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	1,232	1,214	3,620	3,495
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(1,003)	(992)	(2,973)	(2,854)
Depreciation and amortization	(38)	(33)	(111)	(104)
Selling, general and administrative	(31)	(46)	(88)	(129)
Business consolidation and other activities	(37)	(10)	(42)	(32)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	(52)	258	(35)	(247)
Intercompany	(40)	(52)	(123)	(136)
Total costs and expenses	(1,201)	(875)	(3,372)	(3,502)
Earnings before interest and taxes	31	339	248	(7)
Interest expense	1		4	(1)
Total interest expense	1		4	(1)
Earnings before taxes	32	339	252	(8)
Tax (provision) benefit	(19)	(56)	(83)	(108)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax		1	1
Net earnings	13	284	170	(116)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	13	284	170	(116)
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	12	265	166	(85)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	1,694	1,626	4,698	3,213
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(1,353)	(1,371)	(3,693)	(2,605)
Depreciation and amortization	(123)	(112)	(423)	(191)
Selling, general and administrative	(46)	(61)	(139)	(159)
Business consolidation and other activities	(104)	98	(133)	(627)
Intercompany	(37)	(34)	(112)	(58)
Total costs and expenses	(1,663)	(1,480)	(4,500)	(3,640)
Earnings before interest and taxes	31	146	198	(427)
Interest expense	(4)	(14)	(15)	(17)
Debt refinancing and other costs		(2)	(1)	(11)
Total interest expense	(4)	(16)	(16)	(28)
Earnings before taxes	27	130	182	(455)
Tax (provision) benefit	(13)	54	(29)	140
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	5	6	22	6
Net earnings	19	190	175	(309)
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3)	(3)	(6)	(3)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	16	187	169	(312)
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	13	167	146	(306)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Guarantees Relating to Senior Notes
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	1,694	1,626	4,698	3,213
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(1,353)	(1,371)	(3,692)	(2,605)
Depreciation and amortization	(123)	(112)	(423)	(191)
Selling, general and administrative	(55)	(58)	(169)	(156)
Business consolidation and other activities	(102)	101	(129)	(625)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	(28)	91	(29)	(721)
Intercompany	(39)	(26)	(118)	(53)
Total costs and expenses	(1,700)	(1,375)	(4,560)	(4,351)
Earnings before interest and taxes	(6)	251	138	(1,138)
Interest expense	(4)	(14)	(15)	(17)
Debt refinancing and other costs		(2)	(1)	(11)
Total interest expense	(4)	(16)	(16)	(28)
Earnings before taxes	(10)	235	122	(1,166)
Tax (provision) benefit	(13)	166	(29)	254
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	5	6	22	6
Net earnings	(18)	407	115	(906)
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3)	(3)	(6)	(3)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	(21)	404	109	(909)
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	$ (25)	$ 386	$ 90	$ (901)