Note 20 - Reportable Segments (Details) - Reportable Segments (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,404		$ 2,540	$ 2,482	$ 2,289	$ 1,956		$ 2,067	$ 1,982	$ 1,814	$ 9,715	[1]	$ 7,819	[1]	$ 8,012	[1]
Restructuring, impairment & other charges	20			34	17	67					71		67		133
Net income (loss)											2,475		1,961		1,631
Investment in affiliated companies, at equity	1,777					5,519					1,777		5,519
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales											9,715		7,819		8,012
Depreciation											1,153	[2]	960	[2]	972	[2]
Amortization of purchased intangibles											32		31		19
Research, development and engineering expenses											709	[3]	593	[3]	628	[3]
Restructuring, impairment & other charges											68		51		119	[4]
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies													340	[5]	710	[5]
Income tax (provision) benefit											(833)		(559)		(513)
Net income (loss)											1,775	[6]	1,693	[6]	1,914	[6]
Investment in affiliated companies, at equity	311					3,942					311		3,942		3,575
Segment assets	14,256	[7]				14,691	[7]				14,256	[7]	14,691	[7]	15,101	[7]
Capital expenditures											1,045		819		1,502
Display Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales											3,851		2,545		2,909
Depreciation											676	[2]	481	[2]	514	[2]
Research, development and engineering expenses											138	[3]	84	[3]	103	[3]
Restructuring, impairment & other charges											54		7		21	[4]
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies											(20)		357	[5]	692	[5]
Income tax (provision) benefit											(599)		(327)		(367)
Net income (loss)											1,369	[6]	1,267	[6]	1,589	[6]
Investment in affiliated companies, at equity	63					3,666					63		3,666		3,262
Segment assets	8,863	[7]				9,501	[7]				8,863	[7]	9,501	[7]	9,953	[7]
Capital expenditures											492		350		845
Optical Communications [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales											2,652		2,326		2,130
Depreciation											154	[2]	147	[2]	130	[2]
Amortization of purchased intangibles											10		10		9
Research, development and engineering expenses											141	[3]	140	[3]	137	[3]
Restructuring, impairment & other charges											17		12		39	[4]
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies													2	[5]
Income tax (provision) benefit											(116)		(101)		(58)
Net income (loss)											205	[6]	199	[6]	146	[6]
Investment in affiliated companies, at equity	2					3					2		3		17
Segment assets	1,737	[7]				1,654	[7]				1,737	[7]	1,654	[7]	1,435	[7]
Capital expenditures											145		105		311
Environmental Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales											1,092		919		964
Depreciation											119	[2]	120	[2]	117	[2]
Research, development and engineering expenses											91	[3]	89	[3]	100	[3]
Restructuring, impairment & other charges													1		3	[4]
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies											2		1	[5]	1	[5]
Income tax (provision) benefit											(91)		(65)		(58)
Net income (loss)											182	[6]	132	[6]	112	[6]
Investment in affiliated companies, at equity	32					31					32		31		30
Segment assets	1,297	[7]				1,230	[7]				1,297	[7]	1,230	[7]	1,103	[7]
Capital expenditures											173		196		154
Specialty Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales											1,205		1,170		1,346
Depreciation											113	[2]	137	[2]	153	[2]
Research, development and engineering expenses											140	[3]	144	[3]	143	[3]
Restructuring, impairment & other charges											(1)		19		54	[4]
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies													4	[5]
Income tax (provision) benefit											(78)		(91)		(69)
Net income (loss)											144	[6]	187	[6]	137	[6]
Investment in affiliated companies, at equity						10							10		4
Segment assets	1,288	[7]				1,333	[7]				1,288	[7]	1,333	[7]	1,707	[7]
Capital expenditures											104		62		93
Life Sciences [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales											862		851		657
Depreciation											60	[2]	57	[2]	44	[2]
Amortization of purchased intangibles											22		21		10
Research, development and engineering expenses											22	[3]	20	[3]	22	[3]
Restructuring, impairment & other charges											1		4		2	[4]
Income tax (provision) benefit											(34)		(36)		(14)
Net income (loss)											71	[6]	71	[6]	28	[6]
Segment assets	553	[7]				551	[7]				553	[7]	551	[7]	552	[7]
Capital expenditures											30		51		47
All Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales											53		8		6
Depreciation											31	[2]	18	[2]	14	[2]
Research, development and engineering expenses											177	[3]	116	[3]	123	[3]
Restructuring, impairment & other charges											(3)		8
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies											18		(24)	[5]	17	[5]
Income tax (provision) benefit											85		61		53
Net income (loss)											(196)	[6]	(163)	[6]	(98)	[6]
Investment in affiliated companies, at equity	214					232					214		232		262
Segment assets	518	[7]				422	[7]				518	[7]	422	[7]	351	[7]
Capital expenditures											$ 101		$ 55		$ 52

[1] Net sales are attributed to countries based on location of customer.

[2] Depreciation expense for Corning's reportable segments includes an allocation of depreciation of corporate property not specifically identifiable to a segment.

[3] Research, development and engineering expenses include direct project spending that is identifiable to a segment.

[4] In 2012, Corning recorded a $44 million impairment charge in the Specialty Materials segment related to certain assets located in Japan used for the production of large cover glass.

[5] In 2013, equity in earnings of affiliated companies in the Display Technologies segment included a $28 million restructuring charge for our share of costs for headcount reductions and asset write-offs. In 2012, equity in earnings of affiliated companies in the Display Technologies segment included a $18 million restructuring charge for our share of costs for headcount reductions and asset write-offs.

[6] 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.

[7] Segment assets include inventory, accounts receivable, property, plant and equipment, net, and associated equity companies and cost investments.