Note 19 - Reportable Segments (Details) - Reportable Segments (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,482		$ 1,982		$ 4,771		$ 3,796
Restructuring, impairment and other charges or credits					51
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	2,482		1,982		4,771		3,796
Depreciation	290	[1]	239	[1]	576	[1]	485	[1]
Amortization of purchased intangibles	8		8		16		15
Research, development and engineering expenses	183	[2]	151	[2]	352	[2]	304	[2]
Restructuring, impairment and other charges or credits	34				51
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	4		117		(2)		256
Income tax (provision) benefit	(181)		(166)		(427)		(285)
Net income (loss)	388	[3]	501	[3]	675	[3]	935	[3]
Display Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	987		631		1,916		1,281
Depreciation	171	[1]	117	[1]	344	[1]	241	[1]
Research, development and engineering expenses	41	[2]	18	[2]	86	[2]	37	[2]
Restructuring, impairment and other charges or credits	24				29
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	(4)		108		(13)		241
Income tax (provision) benefit	(119)		(84)		(317)		(164)
Net income (loss)	282	[3]	337	[3]	491	[3]	686	[3]
Optical Communications [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	686		601		1,279		1,071
Depreciation	37	[1]	38	[1]	73	[1]	72	[1]
Amortization of purchased intangibles	2		2		4		4
Research, development and engineering expenses	34	[2]	31	[2]	71	[2]	66	[2]
Restructuring, impairment and other charges or credits					12
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies			1				2
Income tax (provision) benefit	(31)		(38)		(50)		(55)
Net income (loss)	61	[3]	76	[3]	88	[3]	111	[3]
Environmental Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	285		228		560		456
Depreciation	30	[1]	30	[1]	60	[1]	61	[1]
Research, development and engineering expenses	21	[2]	22	[2]	42	[2]	45	[2]
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	1		1		2		1
Income tax (provision) benefit	(23)		(18)		(44)		(31)
Net income (loss)	47	[3]	36	[3]	90	[3]	63	[3]
Specialty Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	298		301		559		559
Depreciation	29	[1]	35	[1]	56	[1]	74	[1]
Research, development and engineering expenses	34	[2]	40	[2]	67	[2]	75	[2]
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies			3				3
Income tax (provision) benefit	(21)		(28)		(37)		(47)
Net income (loss)	39	[3]	58	[3]	70	[3]	97	[3]
Life Sciences [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	223		219		433		426
Depreciation	16	[1]	14	[1]	31	[1]	28	[1]
Amortization of purchased intangibles	6		6		12		11
Research, development and engineering expenses	5	[2]	5	[2]	10	[2]	10	[2]
Income tax (provision) benefit	(9)		(13)		(17)		(18)
Net income (loss)	18	[3]	25	[3]	35	[3]	37	[3]
All Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	3		2		24		3
Depreciation	7	[1]	5	[1]	12	[1]	9	[1]
Research, development and engineering expenses	48	[2]	35	[2]	76	[2]	71	[2]
Restructuring, impairment and other charges or credits	10				10
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	7		4		9		9
Income tax (provision) benefit	22		15		38		30
Net income (loss)	$ (59)	[3]	$ (31)	[3]	$ (99)	[3]	$ (59)	[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.