Long-Term Debt, Short-Term Debt, and Financing Arrangements -Additional Information (Detail)		1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			18 Months Ended
	Dec. 05, 2014	Feb. 28, 2014	Apr. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jul. 13, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 13, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 06, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 07, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 04, 2014	Nov. 19, 2014 USD ($)	Apr. 06, 2012	Mar. 22, 2012 USD ($)	Mar. 08, 2012 USD ($)
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Maturities and sinking fund requirement applicable to long term debt 2014									$ 25,000,000
Maturities and sinking fund requirement applicable to long term debt 2016									34,000,000
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three									522,000,000
Maturities and sinking fund requirement applicable to long term debt 2017									1,000,000
Maturities and sinking fund requirement applicable to long term debt 2018									$ 1,000,000
Maximum percentage of stock of certain first-tier foreign subsidiaries pledged to secure senior credit facility									66.00%
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity									$ 1,200,000,000
Unused borrowing capacity									939,000,000
Line of credit facility letters of credit outstanding									$ 1,310,000,000	$ 1,137,000,000
Interest coverage required (minimum) through December 31, 2013									2.75
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage									100.00%
Percent of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest									101.00%
Subsidiaries' credit agreements
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Unused borrowing capacity									$ 39,000,000
Minimum [Member]
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Senior notes indentures minimum required fixed charge coverage ratio prior to incurring certain types of indebtedness									2.00
North America
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
North American Program maximum facility size									$ 130,000,000
Additional financing from second priority facility									50,000,000
Outstanding third party investments in securitized accounts receivable bank program									30,000,000	0
Interest expense recognized from securitization of receivables									3,000,000	2,000,000	$ 2,000,000
Europe
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Outstanding third party investments in securitized accounts receivable bank program									$ 160,000,000	174,000,000
Term of Commitments									1 year
Bank facility cancellation notification									90 days
Loss on sale of trade accounts receivable									$ 3,000,000	$ 3,000,000	$ 4,000,000
Financing Cost Related To Sale Of Securitized Receivables									2.00%	2.00%	2.00%
Expiration of Former Revolving Credit Agreement due 2014
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity																$ 850,000,000
Expiration Of Tranche B Term Facility
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity																213,000,000
8 1/8 Percent Senior Notes due in 2015
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Percentage of Principal Amount	3.00%
Senior note rate																		7.75%
Amount of debt offered for exchange by the company															$ 500,000,000	$ 225,000,000		$ 225,000,000
Amount of debt tendered for exchange by the holders													$ 175,000,000	$ 325,000,000						$ 181,000,000
Debt instrument redemption price as percentage of principal amount prior quarter													103.40%	104.00%			104.35%
Amount of debt tendered for exchange by the holders on April 6, 2012			$ 44,000,000
Debt instrument redemption price as percentage of principal amount current quarter																			103.88%
Senior Notes Due 2020, 6.875% [Member]
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Expenses related to redemption					$ 8,000,000	$ 16,000,000
Tranche A Term Facility due March 22, 2017
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Maturities and sinking fund requirement applicable to long term debt 2014									$ 23,000,000
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity																					$ 300,000,000
Line of credit facility letters of credit outstanding									$ 270,000,000
Tranche A Term Facility due March 22, 2017 | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate									175.00%
Tranche A Term Facility due March 22, 2017 | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Initial Spread
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate									100.00%
Tranche A Term Facility due March 22, 2017 | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Ending Spread
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate									75.00%
Tranche A Term Facility due March 22, 2017 | JP Morgan Chase Prime Rate
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate									75.00%
Tranche A Term Facility due March 22, 2017 | Federal Funds Effective Rate | Initial Spread
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate									50.00%
Tranche A Term Facility due March 22, 2017 | Federal Funds Effective Rate | Ending Spread
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate									75.00%
Seven Point Seven Five Percentage Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Eighteen [Member]
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Expenses related to redemption							$ 13,000,000
Five Point Three Seven Five Percent Senior Notes Due December 15 2024 [Member] [Domain]
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Line of credit facility letters of credit outstanding									$ 225,000,000
Other Debt [Member]
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Unsecured debt									$ 102,000,000
Senior Credit Facility
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Borrowings reduced in basis points to applicable margin, resulting from senior secured leverage ratio below minimum									0.0025
Increase (decrease) in basis points to applicable margin, resulting from senior secured leverage ratio below minimum		(0.25%)							0.50%
Commitment fee basis points									0.30%
Senior Credit Facility | Minimum [Member]
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Senior secured leverage ratio									2.25
Senior Credit Facility | Maximum [Member]
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Senior secured leverage ratio									3.25
commitment fee [Domain]
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Borrowings reduced in basis points to applicable margin, resulting from senior secured leverage ratio below minimum									0.0025
Increase (decrease) in basis points to applicable margin, resulting from senior secured leverage ratio below minimum									0.40%
5% Senior Notes Due 2026
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Line of credit facility letters of credit outstanding									$ 500,000,000
Senior Notes Due 2024, 5.375% [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage									105.375%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity									$ 1,200,000,000
Unused borrowing capacity									900,000,000
Line of credit facility letters of credit outstanding									300,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity																					$ 1,200,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Tranche A Term Facility due March 22, 2017
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Line of credit facility letters of credit outstanding									270,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Letter of Credit
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Line of credit facility letters of credit outstanding									0
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Five Point Three Seven Five Percent Senior Notes Due December 15 2024 [Member] [Domain]
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Line of credit facility letters of credit outstanding									$ 225,000,000
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage									35.00%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | 5% Senior Notes Due 2026
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Line of credit facility letters of credit outstanding									$ 500,000,000
Forecast | Tranche A Term Facility due March 22, 2017
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Periodic Payment, Principal				$ 195,000,000				$ 5,625,000				$ 7,500,000
Tenneco Inc. (Parent Company) | Senior Notes Due 2020, 6.875% [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Senior note rate										6.875%
Line of credit facility letters of credit outstanding										$ 500,000,000
Tenneco Inc. (Parent Company) | 5% Senior Notes Due 2026 | Senior Notes [Member]
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Senior note rate									5.00%
Line of credit facility letters of credit outstanding									$ 500,000,000
Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage									105.00%
Tenneco Inc. (Parent Company) | Senior Notes Due 2024, 5.375% [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangement [Line Items]
Senior note rate									5.375%	5.375%
Line of credit facility letters of credit outstanding									$ 225,000,000	$ 225,000,000