Accounting Pronouncements - Revenue Recognition (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Jan. 02, 2018	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets [Abstract]
Receivables, net	$ 1,872.0		$ 1,872.0		$ 1,941.0		$ 1,634.0
Inventories, net	1,243.0		1,243.0		1,285.0		1,526.0
Other current assets	147.0		147.0		146.0		150.0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Other current liabilities	450.0		450.0		557.0		540.0
Deferred taxes	672.0		672.0		702.0		695.0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Retained earnings	5,224.0		5,224.0		5,024.0		4,987.0
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss)	(800.0)		(800.0)		$ (655.0)		$ (656.0)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Net sales	2,946.0	$ 2,908.0	8,832.0	$ 8,236.0
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(2,362.0)	(2,338.0)	(7,083.0)	(6,583.0)
Earnings before interest and taxes	268.0	124.0	737.0	463.0
Tax (provision) benefit	(140.0)	(4.0)	(220.0)	(48.0)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	$ 59.0	$ 48.0	$ 303.0	$ 215.0
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ 0.14	$ 0.87	$ 0.61
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ 0.13	$ 0.86	$ 0.60
Net earnings	$ 59.0	$ 51.0	$ 304.0	$ 221.0
Adjustments Due to New Guidance | ASU 2014-09
Assets [Abstract]
Receivables, net	250.0		250.0			$ 307.0
Inventories, net	(201.0)		(201.0)			(241.0)
Other current assets	(6.0)		(6.0)			(4.0)
Liabilities [Abstract]
Other current liabilities	8.0		8.0			17.0
Deferred taxes	5.0		5.0			7.0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Retained earnings	29.0		29.0			37.0
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss)	1.0		1.0			$ 1.0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Net sales	(39.0)		(48.0)
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	31.0		38.0
Earnings before interest and taxes	(8.0)		(10.0)
Tax (provision) benefit	3.0		2.0
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	$ (5.0)		$ (8.0)
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)		$ (0.03)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.01)		$ (0.02)
Balance before adoption
Assets [Abstract]
Receivables, net	$ 1,622.0		$ 1,622.0
Inventories, net	1,444.0		1,444.0
Other current assets	153.0		153.0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Other current liabilities	442.0		442.0
Deferred taxes	667.0		667.0
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Retained earnings	5,195.0		5,195.0
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss)	(801.0)		(801.0)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Net sales	2,985.0		8,880.0
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(2,393.0)		(7,121.0)
Earnings before interest and taxes	276.0		747.0
Tax (provision) benefit	(143.0)		(222.0)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	$ 64.0		$ 311.0
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.19		$ 0.90
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.18		$ 0.88