Reportable Segments (Schedule Of Reportable Segments Information By Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,908		$ 2,005		$ 3,828		$ 3,928
Depreciation					473		458
Research, development and engineering expenses	188		172		375		328
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliated companies	259		428		477		826
Income tax (provision) benefit	93		123		204		237
Display Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	641		760		1,346		1,550
Depreciation	125	[1]	123	[1]	254	[1]	247	[1]
Research, development and engineering expenses	26	[2]	27	[2]	53	[2]	52	[2]
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliated companies	184		319		366		613
Income tax (provision) benefit	(78)		(118)		(174)		(257)
Net income (loss)	371	[3]	626	[3]	792	[3]	1,264	[3]
Telecommunications [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	559		548		1,067		1,022
Depreciation	34	[1]	32	[1]	64	[1]	60	[1]
Amortization of purchased intangibles	2		2		5		3
Research, development and engineering expenses	35	[2]	32	[2]	70	[2]	61	[2]
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliated companies	2		1		(2)		4
Income tax (provision) benefit	(17)		(22)		(29)		(41)
Net income (loss)	36	[3]	46	[3]	57	[3]	87	[3]
Environmental Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	249		258		512		517
Depreciation	29	[1]	27	[1]	57	[1]	52	[1]
Research, development and engineering expenses	26	[2]	23	[2]	52	[2]	46	[2]
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliated companies			1		1		1
Income tax (provision) benefit	(17)		(15)		(37)		(29)
Net income (loss)	34	[3]	32	[3]	74	[3]	61	[3]
Specialty Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	296		283		584		537
Depreciation	36	[1]	42	[1]	70	[1]	79	[1]
Research, development and engineering expenses	37	[2]	36	[2]	74	[2]	65	[2]
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliated companies			5				8
Income tax (provision) benefit	(17)		(9)		(28)		(12)
Net income (loss)	34	[3]	23	[3]	55	[3]	31	[3]
Life Sciences [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	162		155		317		299
Depreciation	10	[1]	9	[1]	20	[1]	17	[1]
Amortization of purchased intangibles	2		2		4		4
Research, development and engineering expenses	5	[2]	5	[2]	11	[2]	9	[2]
Income tax (provision) benefit	(5)		(7)		(11)		(14)
Net income (loss)	11	[3]	15	[3]	23	[3]	30	[3]
All Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1		1		2		3
Depreciation	3	[1]	3	[1]	6	[1]	5	[1]
Research, development and engineering expenses	29	[2]	24	[2]	56	[2]	46	[2]
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliated companies	9		2		13		9
Income tax (provision) benefit	12		10		22		19
Net income (loss)	(16)	[3]	(20)	[3]	(36)	[3]	(35)	[3]
Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,908		2,005		3,828		3,928
Depreciation	237	[1]	236	[1]	471	[1]	460	[1]
Amortization of purchased intangibles	4		4		9		7
Research, development and engineering expenses	158	[2]	147	[2]	316	[2]	279	[2]
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliated companies	195		328		378		635
Income tax (provision) benefit	(122)		(161)		(257)		(334)
Net income (loss)	$ 470	[3]	$ 722	[3]	$ 965	[3]	$ 1,438	[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.