Note 5 - Earnings Per Common Share (Details) - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Note 5 - Earnings Per Common Share (Details) - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share [Line Items]
Net income attributable to Corning Incorporated (in Dollars)	$ 407us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 301us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Net income available to common stockholders - basic (in Dollars)	383	280
Net income available to common stockholders - diluted (in Dollars)	407	280
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic	1,266	1,359
Effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted	1,394	1,370
Basic earnings per common share (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.30us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.21us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Diluted earnings per common share (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.29us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.20us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
Antidilutive potential shares excluded from diluted earnings per common share:
Anti-dilutive potential shares excluded from diluted earnings per common share	14	138
Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A [Member]
Note 5 - Earnings Per Common Share (Details) - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Common Share [Line Items]
Less: Series A convertible preferred stock dividend (in Dollars)	(24)	(21)
Plus: Series A convertible preferred stock dividend (in Dollars)	$ 24	$ 21
Effect of dilutive securities:
Effect of dilutive securities	115
Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A [Member]
Antidilutive potential shares excluded from diluted earnings per common share:
Anti-dilutive potential shares excluded from diluted earnings per common share		97
Stock Compensation Plan [Member]
Antidilutive potential shares excluded from diluted earnings per common share:
Anti-dilutive potential shares excluded from diluted earnings per common share	14	29
Forward Contracts [Member]
Antidilutive potential shares excluded from diluted earnings per common share:
Anti-dilutive potential shares excluded from diluted earnings per common share		12
Stock Options and Other Dilutive Securities [Member]
Effect of dilutive securities:
Effect of dilutive securities	13	11

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