Earnings Per Share - Summary of Earnings Per Share of Common Stock (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Basic earnings per share —
Net income attributable to Tenneco Inc.	$ (109)	$ 57	$ 47	$ 60	$ 62	$ 80	$ (5)	$ 61	$ 55	$ 198	$ 347
Average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)									58,625,087	52,796,184	55,939,135
Basic earnings per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ (1.35)	$ 1.11	$ 0.92	$ 1.17	$ 1.19	$ 1.53	$ (0.09)	$ 1.13	$ 0.93	$ 3.75	$ 6.20
Diluted earnings per share —
Average shares of common stock outstanding (in shares)									58,625,087	52,796,184	55,939,135
Effect of dilutive securities:
Restricted stock (in shares)									93,546	111,062	175,513
Stock options (in shares)									40,099	119,665	292,788
Average shares of common stock outstanding including dilutive securities (in shares)									58,758,732	53,026,911	56,407,436
Earnings per average share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ (1.35)	$ 1.11	$ 0.92	$ 1.17	$ 1.19	$ 1.53	$ (0.09)	$ 1.12	$ 0.93	$ 3.73	$ 6.15