Note 10 - Acquisition (Details) (USD $)				0 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Jan. 15, 2014 Revenues Generated by Samsung Corning Precision Materials [Member] Samsung Corning Precision Materials Co., Ltd. [Member]	Jan. 15, 2014 Volume of Certain Sales [Member] Samsung Corning Precision Materials Co., Ltd. [Member]	Jan. 15, 2014 Additional Amount Issued at Closing [Member] Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A [Member] Samsung Display Co., Ltd. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Samsung Corning Precision Materials Co., Ltd. [Member] Samsung Display Co., Ltd. [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Samsung Corning Precision Materials Co., Ltd. [Member] Corning Inc. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Samsung Corning Precision Materials Co., Ltd. [Member] Corning Inc. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Samsung Corning Precision Materials Co., Ltd. [Member] Corning Inc. [Member]	Jan. 15, 2014 Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A [Member] Samsung Display Co., Ltd. [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A [Member] Samsung Display Co., Ltd. [Member]	Jan. 15, 2014 Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Samsung Corning Precision Materials Co., Ltd. [Member]	Jan. 15, 2014 Samsung Corning Precision Materials Co., Ltd. [Member]
Note 10 - Acquisition (Details) [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage					42.50%		57.00%	50.00%
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Remeasurement Gain						$ 394,000,000
Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share (in Dollars per share)	$ 100										$ 100
Preferred Stock, Shares Issued (in Shares)	2,300								2,300
Share Price (in Dollars per share)									$ 1,000,000
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Acquisitions (in Shares)									1,900	1,900
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues (in Shares)				400
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Acquisitions									1,900,000,000
Settlement of Pre-Existing Customer Relationship												320,000,000
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High		665,000,000	100,000,000
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability													196,000,000
Cash Dividends Paid by Consolidated Subsidiaries												2,800,000,000
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs												90,000,000
Business Combination, Increase in Net Sales from Consolidation of the Acquiree												428,000,000
Business Combination, Increase in Net Income from Consolidation of the Acquiree												$ 113,000,000