Earnings Per Share - Summary of Earnings Per Share of Common Stock (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Basic earnings per share —
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ 63	$ 57
Weighted Average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	53,856,352	57,115,496
Earnings per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.17	$ 1.00
Diluted earnings per share —
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ 63	$ 57
Weighted Average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	53,856,352	57,115,496
Effect of dilutive securities:
Restricted stock (in shares)	145,999	48,603
Stock options (in shares)	229,408	281,842
Weighted Average shares of common stock outstanding including dilutive securities (in shares)	54,231,759	57,445,941
Earnings per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.16	$ 0.99