Earnings Per Share - Summary of Earnings Per Share of Common Stock (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Basic earnings per share —
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ 57	$ 49
Weighted Average shares of common stock outstanding	57,115,496	61,044,908
Earnings per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.00	$ 0.81
Diluted earnings per share —
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ 57	$ 49
Weighted Average shares of common stock outstanding	57,115,496	61,044,908
Effect of dilutive securities:
Restricted stock	48,603	83,291
Stock options	281,842	464,888
Weighted Average shares of common stock outstanding including dilutive securities	57,445,941	61,593,087
Earnings per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.99	$ 0.80