Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Earnings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Ownership interest in guarantor subsidiaries (as a percent)			100.00%
Net sales	$ 3,101	$ 2,855	$ 5,886	$ 5,328
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(2,484)	(2,270)	(4,721)	(4,245)
Depreciation and amortization	(178)	(229)	(358)	(377)
Selling, general and administrative	(127)	(128)	(239)	(271)
Business consolidation and other activities	(69)	(41)	(99)	(96)
Total costs and expenses	(2,858)	(2,668)	(5,417)	(4,989)
Earnings before interest and taxes	243	187	469	339
Interest expense	(77)	(74)	(150)	(142)
Debt refinancing and other costs		(1)	(1)	(1)
Total interest expense	(77)	(75)	(151)	(143)
Earnings before taxes	166	112	318	196
Tax (provision) benefit	(46)	(22)	(80)	(44)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax		10	7	18
Net earnings	120	100	245	170
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1)	(1)	(1)	(3)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	119	99	244	167
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	25	(7)	133	189
Eliminating Adjustments
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	(216)	(53)	(398)	(69)
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	216	53	398	69
Equity in results of subsidiaries	(122)	(152)	(318)	(281)
Total costs and expenses	94	(99)	80	(212)
Earnings before interest and taxes	(122)	(152)	(318)	(281)
Earnings before taxes	(122)	(152)	(318)	(281)
Net earnings	(122)	(152)	(318)	(281)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	(122)	(152)	(318)	(281)
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	99	56	(93)	(253)
Ball Corporation
Costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization	(2)	(2)	(3)	(3)
Selling, general and administrative		(55)	(34)	(100)
Business consolidation and other activities	(4)	(14)	(17)	(64)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	103	148	265	270
Intercompany	94	81	176	162
Total costs and expenses	191	158	387	265
Earnings before interest and taxes	191	158	387	265
Interest expense	(80)	(68)	(156)	(134)
Debt refinancing and other costs			(1)
Total interest expense	(80)	(68)	(157)	(134)
Earnings before taxes	111	90	230	131
Tax (provision) benefit	8	9	14	36
Net earnings	119	99	244	167
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	119	99	244	167
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	25	(7)	133	189
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	1,802	1,492	3,337	2,779
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(1,524)	(1,254)	(2,830)	(2,316)
Depreciation and amortization	(52)	(53)	(104)	(101)
Selling, general and administrative	(73)	(28)	(114)	(76)
Business consolidation and other activities	(48)	(11)	(54)	(5)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	19	4	53	11
Intercompany	(110)	(42)	(152)	(83)
Total costs and expenses	(1,788)	(1,384)	(3,201)	(2,570)
Earnings before interest and taxes	14	108	136	209
Interest expense	4	1	7	2
Total interest expense	4	1	7	2
Earnings before taxes	18	109	143	211
Tax (provision) benefit	(15)	(24)	(32)	(63)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	(5)	5	(2)	8
Net earnings	(2)	90	109	156
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	(2)	90	109	156
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	(112)	(16)	(4)	153
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	1,515	1,416	2,947	2,618
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(1,176)	(1,069)	(2,289)	(1,998)
Depreciation and amortization	(124)	(174)	(251)	(273)
Selling, general and administrative	(54)	(45)	(91)	(95)
Business consolidation and other activities	(17)	(16)	(28)	(27)
Intercompany	16	(39)	(24)	(79)
Total costs and expenses	(1,355)	(1,343)	(2,683)	(2,472)
Earnings before interest and taxes	160	73	264	146
Interest expense	(1)	(7)	(1)	(10)
Debt refinancing and other costs		(1)		(1)
Total interest expense	(1)	(8)	(1)	(11)
Earnings before taxes	159	65	263	135
Tax (provision) benefit	(39)	(7)	(62)	(17)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	5	5	9	10
Net earnings	125	63	210	128
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1)	(1)	(1)	(3)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	124	62	209	125
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	$ 13	$ (40)	$ 97	$ 100