Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Earnings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Ownership interest in guarantor subsidiaries (as a percent)	100.00%
Net sales	$ 2,785	$ 2,473
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(2,237)	(1,975)
Depreciation and amortization	(180)	(148)
Selling, general and administrative	(112)	(143)
Business consolidation and other activities	(30)	(55)
Total costs and expenses	(2,559)	(2,321)
Earnings before interest and taxes	226	152
Interest expense	(73)	(68)
Debt refinancing and other costs	(1)
Total interest expense	(74)	(68)
Earnings before taxes	152	84
Tax (provision) benefit	(34)	(22)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	7	8
Net earnings	125	70
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		(2)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	125	68
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	108	196
Eliminating Adjustments
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	(182)	(17)
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	182	17
Equity in results of subsidiaries	(201)	(123)
Total costs and expenses	(19)	(106)
Earnings before interest and taxes	(201)	(123)
Earnings before taxes	(201)	(123)
Net earnings	(201)	(123)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	(201)	(123)
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	(197)	(311)
Ball Corporation
Costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization	(1)	(2)
Selling, general and administrative	(34)	(45)
Business consolidation and other activities	(13)	(51)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	162	123
Intercompany	82	81
Total costs and expenses	196	106
Earnings before interest and taxes	196	106
Interest expense	(76)	(65)
Debt refinancing and other costs	(1)
Total interest expense	(77)	(65)
Earnings before taxes	119	41
Tax (provision) benefit	6	27
Net earnings	125	68
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	125	68
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	108	196
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	1,535	1,287
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(1,306)	(1,062)
Depreciation and amortization	(52)	(47)
Selling, general and administrative	(41)	(48)
Business consolidation and other activities	(6)	6
Equity in results of subsidiaries	34	7
Intercompany	(42)	(41)
Total costs and expenses	(1,413)	(1,185)
Earnings before interest and taxes	122	102
Interest expense	3	1
Total interest expense	3	1
Earnings before taxes	125	103
Tax (provision) benefit	(17)	(40)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	3	3
Net earnings	111	66
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	111	66
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	108	169
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	1,432	1,203
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(1,113)	(930)
Depreciation and amortization	(127)	(99)
Selling, general and administrative	(37)	(50)
Business consolidation and other activities	(11)	(10)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	5	(7)
Intercompany	(40)	(40)
Total costs and expenses	(1,323)	(1,136)
Earnings before interest and taxes	109	67
Interest expense		(4)
Total interest expense		(4)
Earnings before taxes	109	63
Tax (provision) benefit	(23)	(9)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	4	5
Net earnings	90	59
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		(2)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	90	57
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	$ 89	$ 142