Note 19 - Reportable Segments (Details) - Reportable Segments (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,540		$ 2,067		$ 7,311		$ 5,863
Restructuring, impairment & other charges					51
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	2,540		2,067		7,311		5,863
Depreciation	287	[1]	237	[1]	863	[1]	722	[1]
Amortization of purchased intangibles	9		8		25		23
Research, development and engineering expenses	173	[2]	154	[2]	525	[2]	458	[2]
Restructuring, impairment & other charges					51
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	1		78		(1)		334
Income tax (provision) benefit	(212)		(160)		(639)		(445)
Net income (loss)	533	[3]	465	[3]	1,208	[3]	1,400	[3]
Display Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,009		648		2,925		1,929
Depreciation	166	[1]	121	[1]	510	[1]	362	[1]
Research, development and engineering expenses	31	[2]	23	[2]	117	[2]	60	[2]
Restructuring, impairment & other charges	3				42
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	(3)		73		(16)		314
Income tax (provision) benefit	(136)		(86)		(453)		(250)
Net income (loss)	387	[3]	318	[3]	878	[3]	1,004	[3]
Optical Communications [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	698		650		1,977		1,721
Depreciation	38	[1]	38	[1]	111	[1]	110	[1]
Amortization of purchased intangibles	3		3		7		7
Research, development and engineering expenses	35	[2]	37	[2]	106	[2]	103	[2]
Restructuring, impairment & other charges					12
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies							2
Income tax (provision) benefit	(35)		(32)		(85)		(87)
Net income (loss)	68	[3]	62	[3]	156	[3]	173	[3]
Environmental Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	282		225		842		681
Depreciation	29	[1]	30	[1]	89	[1]	91	[1]
Research, development and engineering expenses	23	[2]	23	[2]	65	[2]	68	[2]
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies					2		1
Income tax (provision) benefit	(28)		(16)		(72)		(47)
Net income (loss)	57	[3]	32	[3]	147	[3]	95	[3]
Specialty Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	327		326		886		885
Depreciation	30	[1]	30	[1]	86	[1]	104	[1]
Research, development and engineering expenses	35	[2]	33	[2]	102	[2]	108	[2]
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies			1				4
Income tax (provision) benefit	(25)		(32)		(62)		(79)
Net income (loss)	43	[3]	65	[3]	113	[3]	162	[3]
Life Sciences [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	214		215		647		641
Depreciation	15	[1]	14	[1]	46	[1]	42	[1]
Amortization of purchased intangibles	6		5		18		16
Research, development and engineering expenses	6	[2]	5	[2]	16	[2]	15	[2]
Income tax (provision) benefit	(9)		(10)		(26)		(28)
Net income (loss)	19	[3]	20	[3]	54	[3]	57	[3]
All Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	10		3		34		6
Depreciation	9	[1]	4	[1]	21	[1]	13	[1]
Research, development and engineering expenses	43	[2]	33	[2]	119	[2]	104	[2]
Restructuring, impairment & other charges	(3)				(3)
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	4		4		13		13
Income tax (provision) benefit	21		16		59		46
Net income (loss)	$ (41)	[3]	$ (32)	[3]	$ (140)	[3]	$ (91)	[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.