Operating Segments (Consolidated Net Income) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010		Mar. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010
Segment Reporting Information
Net income of reportable segments	$ 587		$ 319			$ 1,471		$ 1,152
Non-reportable segments	(17)		(12)			(52)		(46)
Net financing costs	(47)	[1]	(47)	[1]		(146)	[1]	(137)	[1]
Stock-based compensation expense	(21)		(22)			(66)		(77)
Exploratory research	(23)		(15)			(59)		(44)
Corporate contributions	(6)		(7)			(38)		(26)
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies, net of impairments	93	[2]	101	[2]		284	[2]	326	[2]
Asbestos litigation charge (credit) (Note 3)	(5)	[3]	(6)	[3]	54	(15)	[3]	41	[3]
Interest rate on debt					6.25%
Maturity date					Feb. 18, 2010
Other corporate items	71	[4]	85	[4]		167	[4]	245	[4]
Net income	811		785			2,314		2,514
Charge from reversal of deferred tax asset								56
Tax benefit from amending 2006 United States Federal return	41
6.2% Senior Unsecured Notes [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Loss on repurchase of debt before tax			30
Loss on repurchase of debt after tax			19
Repurchase of debt principal amount			126
Interest rate on debt			6.20%					6.20%
Maturity date			Mar. 15, 2016
5.9% Senior Unsecured Notes [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Repurchase of debt principal amount			100
Interest rate on debt			5.90%					5.90%
Maturity date			Mar. 15, 2014
Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Net income of reportable segments	766		708			2,239		2,232
Dow Corning Corporation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
U.S. advanced energy manufacturing tax credit								$ 21

[1] Net financing costs include interest income, interest expense, and interest costs and investment gains associated with benefit plans.

[2] Primarily represents the equity earnings of Dow Corning Corporation. In the nine months ended September 30, 2010 equity earnings of affiliated companies, net of impairments, includes a credit of $21 million for our share of U.S. advanced energy manufacturing tax credits at Dow Corning Corporation.

[3] In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, Corning recorded a charge of $5 million and $15 million, respectively, to adjust the asbestos liability for the change in value of the components of the Amended PCC Plan. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, Corning recorded a charge of $6 million and a net credit of $41 million, respectively, primarily reflecting the change in the terms of the proposed asbestos settlement.

[4] In the three months ended September 30, 2011, Corning recorded a $41 million tax benefit from the filing of an amended 2006 U.S. Federal Tax return to claim foreign tax credits. In the three months ended September 30, 2010, Corning recorded a loss of $30 million ($19 million after-tax) from the repurchase of $126 million principal amount of our 6.2% senior unsecured notes due March 15, 2016 and $100 million principal amount of our 5.9% senior unsecured notes due March 15, 2014. In the nine months ended September 30, 2010, other corporate items included a tax charge of $56 million from the reversal of the deferred tax asset associated with a Medicare subsidy.