Investments (Dow Corning And PCC) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Gross profit	$ 978,000,000	$ 724,000,000	$ 2,741,000,000		$ 2,282,000,000
Corning's equity in earnings of affiliate companies	324,000,000	504,000,000	1,150,000,000		1,447,000,000
Share of increase restructuring charges					3,000,000
Equity method investments	4,887,000,000		4,887,000,000			4,369,000,000
Pittsburgh Corning Europe (PCE) [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	137,000,000		137,000,000			129,000,000
Dow Corning Corporation [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Net sales	1,661,000,000	1,515,000,000	4,908,000,000		4,413,000,000
Gross profit	527,000,000	540,000,000	1,599,000,000		1,600,000,000
Net income attributable to affiliate	177,000,000	176,000,000	547,000,000		615,000,000
Corning's equity in earnings of affiliate companies	89,000,000	97,000,000	275,000,000		320,000,000
Corning purchases from affiliated companies	5,000,000	5,000,000	17,000,000		15,000,000
Dividends received from affiliated companies	65,000,000	56,000,000	245,000,000		167,000,000
Due to related parties	2,000,000		2,000,000
Auction rate securities	255,000,000		255,000,000
Temporary impairment			36,000,000
Unrealized losses on investments			30,000,000
Minority interest's share of unrealized losses			6,000,000
Corning's portion of unrealized loss	15,000,000		15,000,000
Amount borrowed under revolving credit facility	1,000,000,000		1,000,000,000
Difference between carrying value and equity	249,000,000		249,000,000
Ownership percentage			50.00%	[1]
Litigation settlement, gross			1,700,000,000
Litigation reserve	1,600,000,000		1,600,000,000
Equity method investments	1,250,000,000		1,250,000,000			1,186,000,000
Dow Corning Corporation [Member] | London Market Insurers (LMI) [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Loss contingency on payments, range of possible loss, minimum	10,000,000		10,000,000
Loss contingency on payments, range of possible loss, maximum	20,000,000		20,000,000
Dow Corning Corporation [Member] | Commercial Creditors [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Loss contingency on payments, range of possible loss, minimum	84,000,000		84,000,000
Loss contingency on payments, range of possible loss, maximum	$ 277,000,000		$ 277,000,000
Dow Corning Corporation [Member] | Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage			63.00%
Corning Inc. [Member] | The Dow Chemical Company [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage			50.00%
Pittsburgh Corning Corporation [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage			0.00%

[1] Amounts reflect Corning's direct ownership interests in the respective affiliated companies. Corning does not control any of these entities.