Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Earnings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Ownership interest in guarantor subsidiaries (as a percent)			100.00%
Net sales	$ 3,017	$ 3,101	$ 5,802	$ 5,886
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(2,428)	(2,484)	(4,681)	(4,721)
Depreciation and amortization	(171)	(178)	(341)	(358)
Selling, general and administrative	(111)	(127)	(238)	(239)
Business consolidation and other activities		(69)	(14)	(99)
Total costs and expenses	(2,710)	(2,858)	(5,274)	(5,417)
Earnings before interest and taxes	307	243	528	469
Interest expense	(81)	(77)	(158)	(150)
Debt refinancing and other costs			(4)	(1)
Total interest expense	(81)	(77)	(162)	(151)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	226	166	366	318
Tax (provision) benefit	(31)	(46)	(41)	(80)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	2		(11)	7
Net earnings	197	120	314	245
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		(1)		(1)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	197	119	314	244
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	189	25	431	133
Eliminating Adjustments
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	(213)	(216)	(412)	(398)
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	213	216	412	398
Equity in results of subsidiaries	(376)	(122)	(532)	(318)
Total costs and expenses	(163)	94	(120)	80
Earnings before interest and taxes	(376)	(122)	(532)	(318)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	(376)	(122)	(532)	(318)
Net earnings	(376)	(122)	(532)	(318)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	(376)	(122)	(532)	(318)
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	(348)	99	(775)	(93)
Ball Corporation | Reportable Legal Entities
Costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization	(1)	(2)	(2)	(3)
Selling, general and administrative	(37)		(61)	(34)
Business consolidation and other activities	(10)	(4)	(16)	(17)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	251	103	387	265
Intercompany	66	94	127	176
Total costs and expenses	269	191	435	387
Earnings before interest and taxes	269	191	435	387
Interest expense	(82)	(80)	(160)	(156)
Debt refinancing and other costs			(4)	(1)
Total interest expense	(82)	(80)	(164)	(157)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	187	111	271	230
Tax (provision) benefit	10	8	43	14
Net earnings	197	119	314	244
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	197	119	314	244
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	189	25	431	133
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	1,737	1,802	3,286	3,337
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(1,528)	(1,524)	(2,852)	(2,830)
Depreciation and amortization	(51)	(52)	(99)	(104)
Selling, general and administrative	(34)	(73)	(88)	(114)
Business consolidation and other activities	(9)	(48)	(7)	(54)
Equity in results of subsidiaries	125	19	145	53
Intercompany	(31)	(110)	(64)	(152)
Total costs and expenses	(1,528)	(1,788)	(2,965)	(3,201)
Earnings before interest and taxes	209	14	321	136
Interest expense	1	4	3	7
Total interest expense	1	4	3	7
Earnings (loss) before taxes	210	18	324	143
Tax (provision) benefit	(18)	(15)	(39)	(32)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	3	(5)	(13)	(2)
Net earnings	195	(2)	272	109
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	195	(2)	272	109
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	180	(112)	422	(4)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt
Net sales	1,493	1,515	2,928	2,947
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	(1,113)	(1,176)	(2,241)	(2,289)
Depreciation and amortization	(119)	(124)	(240)	(251)
Selling, general and administrative	(40)	(54)	(89)	(91)
Business consolidation and other activities	19	(17)	9	(28)
Intercompany	(35)	16	(63)	(24)
Total costs and expenses	(1,288)	(1,355)	(2,624)	(2,683)
Earnings before interest and taxes	205	160	304	264
Interest expense		(1)	(1)	(1)
Total interest expense		(1)	(1)	(1)
Earnings (loss) before taxes	205	159	303	263
Tax (provision) benefit	(23)	(39)	(45)	(62)
Equity in results of affiliates, net of tax	(1)	5	2	9
Net earnings	181	125	260	210
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		(1)		(1)
Net earnings attributable to Ball Corporation	181	124	260	209
Comprehensive earnings (loss) attributable to Ball Corporation	$ 168	$ 13	$ 353	$ 97