Cover Page - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Aug. 02, 2019
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-12387
Entity Registrant Name	TENNECO INC
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	76-0515284
Entity Address, Address Line One	500 North Field Drive
Entity Address, City or Town	Lake Forest
Entity Address, State or Province	IL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	60045
City Area Code	847
Local Phone Number	482-5000
Entity Shell Company	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A Voting Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	TEN
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001024725
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	false
Class A
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		57,126,858
Class B
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		23,793,669