Note 16 - Reportable Segments (Details) - Reportable Segments - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 2,272	$ 2,540	$ 6,880	$ 7,311
Depreciation				842	877
Amortization of purchased intangibles		12	9	40	25
Research, development and engineering expenses		181	199	561	605
Restructuring, impairment & other charges					51
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies		39	95	195	243
Income tax (provision) benefit		(6)	(395)	(202)	(747)
Net income (loss)		212	1,014	1,115	1,484
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		2,272	2,540	6,880	7,311
Depreciation	[1]	273	287	826	863
Amortization of purchased intangibles		12	9	39	25
Research, development and engineering expenses	[2]	149	173	473	525
Restructuring, impairment & other charges		2		4	51
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies		1	1	4	(1)
Income tax (provision) benefit		(185)	(212)	(580)	(639)
Net income (loss)	[3]	389	533	1,237	1,208
Display Technologies [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		757	1,009	2,354	2,925
Depreciation	[1]	147	166	455	510
Research, development and engineering expenses	[2]	28	31	78	117
Restructuring, impairment & other charges			3		42
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies		(3)	(3)	(8)	(16)
Income tax (provision) benefit		(119)	(136)	(387)	(453)
Net income (loss)	[3]	255	387	852	878
Optical Communications [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		747	698	2,244	1,977
Depreciation	[1]	41	38	122	111
Amortization of purchased intangibles		7	3	24	7
Research, development and engineering expenses	[2]	33	35	101	106
Restructuring, impairment & other charges				(1)	12
Income tax (provision) benefit		(34)	(35)	(100)	(85)
Net income (loss)	[3]	70	68	204	156
Environmental Technologies [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		257	282	799	842
Depreciation	[1]	32	29	93	89
Research, development and engineering expenses	[2]	21	23	67	65
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies					2
Income tax (provision) benefit		(19)	(28)	(64)	(72)
Net income (loss)	[3]	38	57	132	147
Specialty Materials [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		288	327	832	886
Depreciation	[1]	29	30	82	86
Research, development and engineering expenses	[2]	27	35	87	102
Restructuring, impairment & other charges		2		5
Income tax (provision) benefit		(23)	(25)	(66)	(62)
Net income (loss)	[3]	46	43	128	113
Life Sciences [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		211	214	619	647
Depreciation	[1]	15	15	45	46
Amortization of purchased intangibles		5	6	15	18
Research, development and engineering expenses	[2]	6	6	17	16
Income tax (provision) benefit		(9)	(9)	(26)	(26)
Net income (loss)	[3]	18	19	52	54
Other Segments [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		12	10	32	34
Depreciation	[1]	9	9	29	21
Research, development and engineering expenses	[2]	34	43	123	119
Restructuring, impairment & other charges			(3)		(3)
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies		4	4	12	13
Income tax (provision) benefit		19	21	63	59
Net income (loss)	[3]	$ (38)	$ (41)	$ (131)	$ (140)

[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.