Employee Benefit Obligations - Components of net periodic benefit cost (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Ball-sponsored plans:
Noncash charge for settlement		$ (102)	$ (8)
Settlement loss				$ 102
Selling, general and administrative
Ball-sponsored plans:
Non-service pension income	$ 7		5	19	$ 16
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Ball-sponsored plans:
Contributions to pension plans				92	154
Expected contributions to pension plans for the full year	100			100
Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Ball Sponsored Plans
Ball-sponsored plans:
Service cost	20		15	60	45
Interest cost	32		43	99	129
Expected return on plan assets	(51)		(55)	(155)	(167)
Amortization of prior service cost	1		1	3	3
Recognized net actuarial loss	11		6	34	19
Settlement losses	5		8	102	8
Net periodic benefit cost for Ball sponsored plans	18		18
Total net periodic benefit cost				143	37
U.S.
Ball-sponsored plans:
Payments to participants		$ 245
U.S. | Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Ball Sponsored Plans
Ball-sponsored plans:
Service cost	16		13	48	37
Interest cost	18		26	56	76
Expected return on plan assets	(29)		(29)	(91)	(86)
Amortization of prior service cost			1	1	1
Recognized net actuarial loss	10		5	30	16
Settlement losses	5			102
Net periodic benefit cost for Ball sponsored plans	20		16
Total net periodic benefit cost				146	44
Foreign | Defined Benefit Pension Plans | Ball Sponsored Plans
Ball-sponsored plans:
Service cost	4		2	12	8
Interest cost	14		17	43	53
Expected return on plan assets	(22)		(26)	(64)	(81)
Amortization of prior service cost	1			2	2
Recognized net actuarial loss	1		1	4	3
Settlement losses			8		8
Net periodic benefit cost for Ball sponsored plans	$ (2)		2
Total net periodic benefit cost				$ (3)	$ (7)
Canada
Ball-sponsored plans:
Payments to participants			$ 32