Subsidiary Guarantees of Debt - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Jan. 01, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 483			$ 721	$ 598		$ 448
Receivables, net	1,957			1,802
Inventories, net	1,180			1,271
Other current assets	209		$ 139	146
Total current assets	3,829			3,940
Noncurrent assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,320			4,542
Goodwill	4,371			4,475
Intangible assets, net	2,027			2,188
Other assets	1,690			1,409
Total assets	16,237			16,554
Current liabilities
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt	361			219
Accounts payable	2,658			3,095
Accrued employee costs	256			289
Other current liabilities	498		489	492
Total current liabilities	3,773			4,095
Noncurrent liabilities
Long-term debt	6,623			6,510
Employee benefit obligations	1,383			1,455
Long-term derivative liabilities	3			64
Deferred taxes	602			645
Deferred taxes	203			237
Other liabilities	391		$ 273	287
Total liabilities	12,772			12,992
Common stock	1,177			1,157
Retained earnings	5,694			5,341
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss)	(716)			(835)
Treasury stock, at cost	(2,790)			(2,205)
Total Ball Corporation shareholders' equity	3,365			3,458
Noncontrolling interests	100			104
Total equity	3,465	$ 3,564		3,562	$ 3,745	$ 3,995	$ 4,084
Total liabilities and equity	16,237			16,554
Eliminating Adjustments
Current assets
Intercompany receivables	(2,051)			(2,218)
Total current assets	(2,051)			(2,218)
Noncurrent assets
Investment in subsidiaries	(14,168)			(14,825)
Total assets	(16,219)			(17,043)
Current liabilities
Intercompany payables	(2,658)			(2,825)
Total current liabilities	(2,658)			(2,825)
Noncurrent liabilities
Intercompany long-term notes	607			606
Total liabilities	(2,051)			(2,219)
Common stock	(6,423)			(7,837)
Preferred stock	(5)			(5)
Retained earnings	(8,492)			(8,028)
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss)	752			1,046
Total Ball Corporation shareholders' equity	(14,168)			(14,824)
Total equity	(14,168)			(14,824)
Total liabilities and equity	(16,219)			(17,043)
Ball Corporation | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	7			4
Receivables, net	9			21
Intercompany receivables	103			66
Other current assets	37			32
Total current assets	156			123
Noncurrent assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	34			24
Investment in subsidiaries	11,678			11,145
Intangible assets, net	18			18
Other assets	315			213
Total assets	12,201			11,523
Current liabilities
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt	239			173
Accounts payable	17			50
Intercompany payables	2,379			2,310
Accrued employee costs	49			39
Other current liabilities	136			153
Total current liabilities	2,820			2,725
Noncurrent liabilities
Long-term debt	6,620			6,504
Employee benefit obligations	822			871
Intercompany long-term notes	(1,263)			(1,977)
Deferred taxes	(247)			(172)
Other liabilities	84			114
Total liabilities	8,836			8,065
Common stock	1,177			1,157
Retained earnings	5,694			5,341
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss)	(716)			(835)
Treasury stock, at cost	(2,790)			(2,205)
Total Ball Corporation shareholders' equity	3,365			3,458
Total equity	3,365			3,458
Total liabilities and equity	12,201			11,523
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets
Receivables, net	594			613
Intercompany receivables	237			495
Inventories, net	506			527
Other current assets	39			35
Total current assets	1,376			1,670
Noncurrent assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,403			1,378
Investment in subsidiaries	2,589			3,779
Goodwill	1,191			1,191
Intangible assets, net	383			409
Other assets	299			215
Total assets	7,241			8,642
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	949			1,178
Intercompany payables	123			49
Accrued employee costs	119			144
Other current liabilities	142			119
Total current liabilities	1,333			1,490
Noncurrent liabilities
Employee benefit obligations	293			286
Intercompany long-term notes	(1,764)			3
Deferred taxes	247			169
Other liabilities	128			45
Total liabilities	237			1,993
Common stock	2,523			2,523
Retained earnings	4,939			4,712
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss)	(458)			(586)
Total Ball Corporation shareholders' equity	7,004			6,649
Total equity	7,004			6,649
Total liabilities and equity	7,241			8,642
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	476			717
Receivables, net	1,354			1,168
Intercompany receivables	1,711			1,657
Inventories, net	674			744
Other current assets	133			79
Total current assets	4,348			4,365
Noncurrent assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,883			3,140
Investment in subsidiaries	(99)			(99)
Goodwill	3,180			3,284
Intangible assets, net	1,626			1,761
Other assets	1,076			981
Total assets	13,014			13,432
Current liabilities
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt	122			46
Accounts payable	1,692			1,867
Intercompany payables	156			466
Accrued employee costs	88			106
Other current liabilities	220			220
Total current liabilities	2,278			2,705
Noncurrent liabilities
Long-term debt	3			6
Employee benefit obligations	268			298
Intercompany long-term notes	2,420			1,368
Deferred taxes	602			648
Other liabilities	179			128
Total liabilities	5,750			5,153
Common stock	3,900			5,314
Preferred stock	5			5
Retained earnings	3,553			3,316
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss)	(294)			(460)
Total Ball Corporation shareholders' equity	7,164			8,175
Noncontrolling interests	100			104
Total equity	7,264			8,279
Total liabilities and equity	$ 13,014			$ 13,432