Earnings Per Share - Summary of Earnings Per Share of Common Stock (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Basic earnings per share —
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ 83	$ 179	$ 139	$ 318
Weighted Average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	52,508,078	55,679,969	53,265,149	56,511,838
Earnings per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.57	$ 3.22	$ 2.61	$ 5.63
Diluted earnings per share —
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ 83	$ 179	$ 139	$ 318
Weighted Average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)	52,508,078	55,679,969	53,265,149	56,511,838
Effect of dilutive securities:
Restricted stock (in shares)	89,666	207,707	106,320	144,145
Stock options (in shares)	89,912	278,033	130,395	302,464
Weighted Average shares of common stock outstanding including dilutive securities (in shares)	52,687,656	56,165,709	53,501,864	56,958,447
Earnings per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.57	$ 3.19	$ 2.60	$ 5.58