Liquidity

No definition available.

Name:	ten_Liquidity
Namespace Prefix:	ten_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of amortization expense attributable to debt issuance costs.

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

+ References

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

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Name:	us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt payable, sinking fund requirement, and other securities issued that are redeemable by holder at fixed or determinable price and date, maturing in next fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The remaining balance of debt issuance expenses that were capitalized and are being amortized against income over the lives of the respective bond issues. This does not include the amounts capitalized as part of the cost of the utility plant or asset.

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Name:	us-gaap_UnamortizedDebtIssuanceExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ten_TermLoanADue2019Through2023Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ten_A4.875EuroFixedRateNotesDue2022Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ten_RevolvingCreditAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=ten_TermLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ten_A3.00TermLoanBDue2019Through2025Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ten_A7875EuroFixedRateNotesDue2029Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=ten_UncommittedLettersOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Period Type:

Debt and Other Financing Arrangements - Additional Information (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 EUR (€)	Dec. 14, 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt	$ 2,000,000	$ 0	$ (10,000,000)
Long term debt maturities within the next twelve months	150,000,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs	82,000,000	76,000,000
Liquidity	2,300,000,000
Cash	803,000,000
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity	1,500,000,000
Long-term debt	5,171,000,000	5,371,000,000
Other Assets
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amortization of debt issuance fees	6,000,000	5,000,000	$ 1,000,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs	17,000,000
Tenneco Inc. Term Loan A
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity	$ 0
4.875% Euro Fixed Rate Notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated rate	4.875%			4.875%	4.875%
Tenneco Inc. revolving credit agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity	$ 1,500,000,000
Long-term debt	0
Term Loan \| Tenneco Inc. Term Loan A
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount	1,530,000,000	1,615,000,000
Long term debt maturities within the next twelve months	128,000,000
Term Loan \| Tenneco Inc. Term Loan B
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount	1,666,000,000	1,683,000,000
Long term debt maturities within the next twelve months	17,000,000
Senior Notes \| 7.875% Euro Fixed Rate Notes Due 2029
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount	$ 500,000,000
Stated rate	7.875%			7.875%
Senior Notes \| 4.875% Euro Fixed Rate Notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount	$ 0	$ 465,000,000		€ 415,000,000
Stated rate	4.875%			4.875%
Committed Letters of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letters of credit outstanding	$ 28,000,000
Uncommitted Letters of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letters of credit outstanding	$ 75,000,000