Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Earnings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Ownership interest in guarantor subsidiaries (as a percent)	100.00%
Net sales	$ 2,785	$ 2,785
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(2,253)	(2,237)
Depreciation and amortization	(170)	(180)
Selling, general and administrative	(127)	(112)
Business consolidation and other activities	(14)	(30)
Total costs and expenses	(2,564)	(2,559)
Earnings before interest and taxes	221	226
Interest expense	(77)	(73)
Debt refinancing and other costs	(4)	(1)
Total interest expense	(81)	(74)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	140	152
Tax (provision) benefit	(10)	(34)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	(13)	7
Net earnings	117	125
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	117	125
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	242	108
Eliminating Adjustments
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	(199)	(182)
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	199	182
Equity in results of subsidiaries	(156)	(201)
Total costs and expenses	43	(19)
Earnings before interest and taxes	(156)	(201)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	(156)	(201)
Net earnings	(156)	(201)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	(156)	(201)
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	(427)	(197)
Ball Corporation
Costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization	(1)	(1)
Selling, general and administrative	(24)	(34)
Business consolidation and other activities	(6)	(13)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	136	162
Intercompany	61	82
Total costs and expenses	166	196
Earnings before interest and taxes	166	196
Interest expense	(78)	(76)
Debt refinancing and other costs	(4)	(1)
Total interest expense	(82)	(77)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	84	119
Tax (provision) benefit	33	6
Net earnings	117	125
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	117	125
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	242	108
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	1,549	1,535
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(1,324)	(1,306)
Depreciation and amortization	(48)	(52)
Selling, general and administrative	(54)	(41)
Business consolidation and other activities	2	(6)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	20	34
Intercompany	(33)	(42)
Total costs and expenses	(1,437)	(1,413)
Earnings before interest and taxes	112	122
Interest expense	2	3
Total interest expense	2	3
Earnings (loss) before taxes	114	125
Tax (provision) benefit	(21)	(17)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	(16)	3
Net earnings	77	111
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	77	111
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	242	108
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	1,435	1,432
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(1,128)	(1,113)
Depreciation and amortization	(121)	(127)
Selling, general and administrative	(49)	(37)
Business consolidation and other activities	(10)	(11)
Equity in results of subsidiaries		5
Intercompany	(28)	(40)
Total costs and expenses	(1,336)	(1,323)
Earnings before interest and taxes	99	109
Interest expense	(1)
Total interest expense	(1)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	98	109
Tax (provision) benefit	(22)	(23)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	3	4
Net earnings	79	90
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	79	90
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	$ 185	$ 89