Represents the change in stock price of the entity's shares.

No definition available.

Name:	bll_ChangeInStockPricePerShare
Namespace Prefix:	bll_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the amount of collateral posted for derivative contracts when the negative mark to fair value of the contracts exceeds specified levels.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bll_DerivativeContractsCollateralAmountPosted
Namespace Prefix:	bll_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The estimated amount of gains or losses, net of tax, on derivative instruments included in AOCI as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bll_DerivativeGainLossIncludedInAccumulationOtherComprehensiveIncomeNet
Namespace Prefix:	bll_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount of derivative expressed in number of shares.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bll_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmountShares
Namespace Prefix:	bll_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the notional amount terminated by the entity in the reporting period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bll_DerivativeNotionalAmountTerminated
Namespace Prefix:	bll_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of methods through which the entity manages commodity price risk.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bll_NumberOfMethodsUsedToManageCommodityPriceRisk
Namespace Prefix:	bll_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after tax, of accumulated gain (loss) on derivative instrument designated and qualifying as cash flow hedge included in assessment of hedge effectiveness.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118930883&loc=d3e637-108580

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The estimated net amount of existing gains or losses on cash flow hedges at the reporting date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next 12 months.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=112277219&loc=d3e80748-113994

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedWithinTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate fair value amounts of derivative instruments that contain credit-risk-related contingent features that are in a net liability position at the end of the reporting period. For nonderivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, the fair value amounts are the carrying value of the nonderivative hedging instrument, including the adjustment for the foreign currency transaction gain (loss) on that instrument.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4H
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5624258-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeNetLiabilityPositionAggregateFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Nominal or face amount used to calculate payment on derivative.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5580258-113959

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109980867&loc=SL5579245-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Period remaining until the derivative contract matures, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeRemainingMaturity1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis=us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis=us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=bll_InterestRateSwapAndOptionContractsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=bll_ForeignExchangeForwardAndOptionCollarContractsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_CurrencySwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

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Financial Instruments and Risk Management - General (Details) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) approach $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Financial Instruments and Risk Management
Aggregate fair value of derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features that were in a net liability position	$ 32	$ 46
Collateral amount posted for derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features that were in a net liability position	$ 0	$ 0
Commodity contracts
Financial Instruments and Risk Management
Number of methods through which entity manages commodity price risk in connection with market price fluctuations of aluminum ingot \| approach	2
Notional amount of derivatives	$ 1,300
Net gain (loss) expected to be recognized in the consolidated statement of earnings during the next 12 months	(21)
Gain (loss) on derivatives included in AOCI, net of tax	(24)
Commodity contracts \| Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments \| Cash Flow Hedging
Financial Instruments and Risk Management
Notional amount of derivatives	$ 1,200
Commodity contracts \| Maximum
Financial Instruments and Risk Management
Period within which derivative will expire	3 years
Interest rate swap and option contracts
Financial Instruments and Risk Management
Notional amount of derivatives	$ 1,300
Interest rate swap and option contracts \| Maximum
Financial Instruments and Risk Management
Period within which derivative will expire	2 years
Currency Exchange Rate Risk
Financial Instruments and Risk Management
Notional amount of derivatives	$ 3,800
Period within which derivative will expire	5 years
Net gain (loss) expected to be recognized in the consolidated statement of earnings during the next 12 months	$ 3
Gain (loss) on derivatives included in AOCI, net of tax	10
Net after-tax gain (loss) included in AOCI	(10)
Cross-currency swap
Financial Instruments and Risk Management
Notional amount of derivatives	250		$ 1,000
Gain (loss) on derivatives included in AOCI, net of tax	(6)
Notional amount terminated	$ 750
Equity contracts
Financial Instruments and Risk Management
Change in company's stock price (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 1
Combined notional value (in shares) \| shares	2.9