Accounting Pronouncements - Revenue Recognition (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jan. 02, 2018	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets [Abstract]
Receivables, net	$ 2,013.0		$ 2,013.0		$ 1,941.0		$ 1,634.0
Inventories, net	1,257.0		1,257.0		1,285.0		1,526.0
Other current assets	206.0		206.0				145.0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Other current liabilities	558.0		558.0		557.0		540.0
Deferred taxes	666.0		666.0		702.0		695.0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Retained earnings	5,199.0		5,199.0		5,024.0		4,987.0
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss)	(767.0)		(767.0)		$ (655.0)		$ (656.0)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Net sales	3,101.0	$ 2,855.0	5,886.0	$ 5,328.0
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(2,484.0)	(2,270.0)	(4,721.0)	(4,245.0)
Earnings before interest and taxes	243.0	187.0	469.0	339.0
Tax (provision) benefit	(46.0)	(22.0)	(80.0)	(44.0)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	$ 119.0	$ 99.0	$ 244.0	$ 167.0
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.34	$ 0.28	$ 0.70	$ 0.48
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.34	$ 0.28	$ 0.68	$ 0.47
Net earnings	$ 120.0	$ 100.0	$ 245.0	$ 170.0
Adjustments Due to New Guidance | ASU 2014-09
Assets [Abstract]
Receivables, net	291.0		291.0			$ 307.0
Inventories, net	(232.0)		(232.0)			(241.0)
Other current assets	(4.0)		(4.0)
Liabilities [Abstract]
Other current liabilities	13.0		13.0			17.0
Deferred taxes	7.0		7.0			7.0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Retained earnings	34.0		34.0			37.0
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss)	1.0		1.0			$ 1.0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Net sales	(42.0)		(9.0)
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	38.0		7.0
Earnings before interest and taxes	(4.0)		(2.0)
Tax (provision) benefit	(1.0)		(1.0)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	$ (5.0)		$ (3.0)
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)		$ (0.01)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.01)		$ (0.01)
Balance before adoption
Assets [Abstract]
Receivables, net	$ 1,722.0		$ 1,722.0
Inventories, net	1,489.0		1,489.0
Other current assets	210.0		210.0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Other current liabilities	545.0		545.0
Deferred taxes	659.0		659.0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Retained earnings	5,165.0		5,165.0
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss)	(768.0)		(768.0)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Net sales	3,143.0		5,895.0
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(2,522.0)		(4,728.0)
Earnings before interest and taxes	247.0		471.0
Tax (provision) benefit	(45.0)		(79.0)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	$ 124.0		$ 247.0
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.36		$ 0.71
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.35		$ 0.69