Employee Benefit Obligations - Components of net periodic benefit cost (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019
Selling, general and administrative
Ball-sponsored plans:
Non-service pension income	$ 6	$ 2	$ 11	$ 3
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Ball-sponsored plans:
Total net periodic benefit cost	9	17	19	33
Contributions to pension plans			73	14
Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Forecast
Ball-sponsored plans:
Expected contributions to pension plans for the full year					$ 92
Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Ball Sponsored Plans
Ball-sponsored plans:
Service cost	15	18	30	35
Interest cost	43	42	86	84
Expected return on plan assets	(56)	(55)	(112)	(109)
Amortization of prior service cost	1	1	2	1
Recognized net actuarial loss	6	10	13	21
Net periodic benefit cost for Ball sponsored plans	9	16	19	32
Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Multi-employer Plans
Ball-sponsored plans:
Net periodic benefit cost for multiemployer plans		1		1
U.S. | Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Ball-sponsored plans:
Total net periodic benefit cost	13	21	28	41
U.S. | Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Ball Sponsored Plans
Ball-sponsored plans:
Service cost	12	14	24	27
Interest cost	25	24	50	48
Expected return on plan assets	(29)	(28)	(57)	(55)
Amortization of prior service cost		1		1
Recognized net actuarial loss	5	9	11	19
Net periodic benefit cost for Ball sponsored plans	13	20	28	40
U.S. | Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Multi-employer Plans
Ball-sponsored plans:
Net periodic benefit cost for multiemployer plans		1		1
Foreign | Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Ball-sponsored plans:
Total net periodic benefit cost	(4)	(4)	(9)	(8)
Foreign | Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Ball Sponsored Plans
Ball-sponsored plans:
Service cost	3	4	6	8
Interest cost	18	18	36	36
Expected return on plan assets	(27)	(27)	(55)	(54)
Amortization of prior service cost	1		2
Recognized net actuarial loss	1	1	2	2
Net periodic benefit cost for Ball sponsored plans	$ (4)	$ (4)	$ (9)	$ (8)