Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2019	Jan. 01, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 603		$ 721	$ 477	$ 448
Receivables, net	1,885		1,802
Inventories, net	1,275		1,271
Other current assets	184	$ 139	140
Assets held for sale	452		6
Total current assets	4,399		3,940
Noncurrent assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,360		4,542
Goodwill	4,410		4,475
Intangible assets, net	2,137		2,188
Other assets	1,617		1,409
Total assets	16,923		16,554
Current liabilities
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt	399		219
Accounts payable	2,739		3,095
Accrued employee costs	224		289
Other current liabilities	500	489	492
Liabilities held for sale	173
Total current liabilities	4,035		4,095
Noncurrent liabilities
Long-term debt	6,719		6,510
Employee benefit obligations	1,479		1,455
Long-term derivative liabilities	27		64
Deferred taxes	625		645
Other liabilities	416	$ 273	287
Total liabilities	13,274		12,992
Common stock	1,154		1,157
Retained earnings	5,504		5,341
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss)	(789)		(835)
Treasury stock, at cost	(2,323)		(2,205)
Total Ball Corporation shareholders' equity	3,546		3,458
Noncontrolling interests	103		104
Total equity	3,649		3,562	$ 4,138	$ 4,084
Total liabilities and equity	16,923		16,554
Eliminating Adjustments
Current assets
Intercompany receivables	(2,254)		(2,218)
Total current assets	(2,254)		(2,218)
Noncurrent assets
Investment in subsidiaries	(15,206)		(14,825)
Total assets	(17,460)		(17,043)
Current liabilities
Intercompany payables	(2,860)		(2,825)
Total current liabilities	(2,860)		(2,825)
Noncurrent liabilities
Intercompany long-term notes	606		606
Total liabilities	(2,254)		(2,219)
Common stock	(7,842)		(7,837)
Preferred stock	(5)		(5)
Retained earnings	(8,213)		(8,028)
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss)	854		1,046
Total Ball Corporation shareholders' equity	(15,206)		(14,824)
Total equity	(15,206)		(14,824)
Total liabilities and equity	(17,460)		(17,043)
Ball Corporation
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	14		4
Receivables, net	4		21
Intercompany receivables	90		66
Other current assets	59		32
Total current assets	167		123
Noncurrent assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	28		24
Investment in subsidiaries	11,392		11,145
Intangible assets, net	18		18
Other assets	262		213
Total assets	11,867		11,523
Current liabilities
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt	336		173
Accounts payable	18		50
Intercompany payables	2,307		2,310
Accrued employee costs	40		39
Other current liabilities	125		153
Total current liabilities	2,826		2,725
Noncurrent liabilities
Long-term debt	6,713		6,504
Employee benefit obligations	897		871
Intercompany long-term notes	(1,977)		(1,977)
Deferred taxes	(247)		(172)
Other liabilities	109		114
Total liabilities	8,321		8,065
Common stock	1,154		1,157
Retained earnings	5,504		5,341
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss)	(789)		(835)
Treasury stock, at cost	(2,323)		(2,205)
Total Ball Corporation shareholders' equity	3,546		3,458
Total equity	3,546		3,458
Total liabilities and equity	11,867		11,523
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets
Receivables, net	658		613
Intercompany receivables	490		495
Inventories, net	559		527
Other current assets	31		31
Assets held for sale	4		4
Total current assets	1,742		1,670
Noncurrent assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,390		1,378
Investment in subsidiaries	3,913		3,779
Goodwill	1,191		1,191
Intangible assets, net	401		409
Other assets	293		215
Total assets	8,930		8,642
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	1,022		1,178
Intercompany payables	65		49
Accrued employee costs	94		144
Other current liabilities	139		119
Total current liabilities	1,320		1,490
Noncurrent liabilities
Employee benefit obligations	295		286
Intercompany long-term notes	113		3
Deferred taxes	244		169
Other liabilities	119		45
Total liabilities	2,091		1,993
Common stock	2,523		2,523
Retained earnings	4,815		4,712
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss)	(499)		(586)
Total Ball Corporation shareholders' equity	6,839		6,649
Total equity	6,839		6,649
Total liabilities and equity	8,930		8,642
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	589		717
Receivables, net	1,223		1,168
Intercompany receivables	1,674		1,657
Inventories, net	716		744
Other current assets	94		77
Assets held for sale	448		2
Total current assets	4,744		4,365
Noncurrent assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,942		3,140
Investment in subsidiaries	(99)		(99)
Goodwill	3,219		3,284
Intangible assets, net	1,718		1,761
Other assets	1,062		981
Total assets	13,586		13,432
Current liabilities
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt	63		46
Accounts payable	1,699		1,867
Intercompany payables	488		466
Accrued employee costs	90		106
Other current liabilities	236		220
Liabilities held for sale	173
Total current liabilities	2,749		2,705
Noncurrent liabilities
Long-term debt	6		6
Employee benefit obligations	287		298
Intercompany long-term notes	1,258		1,368
Deferred taxes	628		648
Other liabilities	188		128
Total liabilities	5,116		5,153
Common stock	5,319		5,314
Preferred stock	5		5
Retained earnings	3,398		3,316
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss)	(355)		(460)
Total Ball Corporation shareholders' equity	8,367		8,175
Noncontrolling interests	103		104
Total equity	8,470		8,279
Total liabilities and equity	$ 13,586		$ 13,432