Operating Segments (Schedule Of Segment Reporting Information By Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,005		$ 1,712		$ 3,928		$ 3,265
Research, development and engineering expenses	172		144		328		289
Restructuring, impairment and other credits							(2)
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	428		474		826		943
Display Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	760		834		1,550		1,616
Depreciation	123	[1]	129	[1]	247	[1]	257	[1]
Research, development and engineering expenses	27	[2]	21	[2]	52	[2]	44	[2]
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	319		353		613		697
Income tax (provision) benefit	(118)		(151)		(257)		(283)
Net income (loss)	626	[3]	756	[3]	1,264	[3]	1,459	[3]
Telecommunications [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	548		441		1,022		805
Depreciation	32	[1]	32	[1]	60	[1]	62	[1]
Amortization of purchased intangibles	2				3		1
Research, development and engineering expenses	32	[2]	28	[2]	61	[2]	57	[2]
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	1		1		4		1
Income tax (provision) benefit	(22)		(14)		(41)		(18)
Net income (loss)	46	[3]	30	[3]	87	[3]	38	[3]
Environmental Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	258		184		517		376
Depreciation	27	[1]	25	[1]	52	[1]	51	[1]
Research, development and engineering expenses	23	[2]	23	[2]	46	[2]	46	[2]
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	1		1		1		4
Income tax (provision) benefit	(15)		(2)		(29)		(7)
Net income (loss)	32	[3]	5	[3]	61	[3]	16	[3]
Specialty Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	283		126		537		222
Depreciation	42	[1]	12	[1]	79	[1]	23	[1]
Research, development and engineering expenses	36	[2]	20	[2]	65	[2]	36	[2]
Restructuring, impairment and other credits							(2)
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	5				8
Income tax (provision) benefit	(9)		9		(12)		12
Net income (loss)	23	[3]	(17)	[3]	31	[3]	(24)	[3]
Life Sciences [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	155		125		299		243
Depreciation	9	[1]	8	[1]	17	[1]	16	[1]
Amortization of purchased intangibles	2		2		4		3
Research, development and engineering expenses	5	[2]	4	[2]	9	[2]	8	[2]
Income tax (provision) benefit	(7)		(9)		(14)		(17)
Net income (loss)	15	[3]	18	[3]	30	[3]	35	[3]
All Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1		2		3		3
Depreciation	3	[1]	3	[1]	5	[1]	6	[1]
Research, development and engineering expenses	24	[2]	28	[2]	46	[2]	56	[2]
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	2		5		9		16
Income tax (provision) benefit	10		13		19		24
Net income (loss)	(20)	[3]	(19)	[3]	(35)	[3]	(34)	[3]
Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	2,005		1,712		3,928		3,265
Depreciation	236	[1]	209	[1]	460	[1]	415	[1]
Amortization of purchased intangibles	4		2		7		4
Research, development and engineering expenses	147	[2]	124	[2]	279	[2]	247	[2]
Restructuring, impairment and other credits							(2)
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	328		360		635		718
Income tax (provision) benefit	(161)		(154)		(334)		(289)
Net income (loss)	$ 722	[3]	$ 773	[3]	$ 1,438	[3]	$ 1,490	[3]

[1] Depreciation expense for Corning's reportable segments includes an allocation of depreciation of corporate property not specifically identifiable to a segment.

[2] Research, development, and engineering expenses include direct project spending that is identifiable to a segment.

[3] Many of Corning's administrative and staff functions are performed on a centralized basis. Where practicable, Corning charges these expenses to segments based upon the extent to which each business uses a centralized function. Other staff functions, such as corporate finance, human resources and legal, are allocated to segments, primarily as a percentage of sales.