Note 18 - Earnings Per Common Share (Details) - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Note 18 - Earnings Per Common Share (Details) - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share [Line Items]
Net income attributable to Corning Incorporated (in Dollars)	$ 224	$ 212	$ 496	$ 407	$ 988	$ 1,014	$ 169	$ 301	$ 1,339	$ 2,472	$ 1,961
Net income available to common stockholders - basic (in Dollars)									1,241	2,378	1,961
Net income available to common stockholders - diluted (in Dollars)									$ 1,339	$ 2,472	$ 1,961
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic									1,219	1,305	1,452
Effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted									1,343	1,427	1,462
Basic earnings per common share (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ 0.16	$ 0.38	$ 0.30	$ 0.76	$ 0.77	$ 0.11	$ 0.21	$ 1.02	$ 1.82	$ 1.35
Diluted earnings per common share (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ 0.15	$ 0.36	$ 0.29	$ 0.70	$ 0.72	$ 0.11	$ 0.20	$ 1.00	$ 1.73	$ 1.34
Anti-dilutive potential shares excluded from diluted earnings per common share:
Anti-dilutive potential shares excluded from diluted earnings per common share									37	27	42
Stock Compensation Plan [Member]
Anti-dilutive potential shares excluded from diluted earnings per common share:
Anti-dilutive potential shares excluded from diluted earnings per common share									22	24	39
Forward Contracts [Member]
Anti-dilutive potential shares excluded from diluted earnings per common share:
Anti-dilutive potential shares excluded from diluted earnings per common share									15	3	3
Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A [Member]
Note 18 - 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)									$ 98	$ 94
Plus: Series A convertible preferred stock dividend (in Dollars)									$ 98	$ 94
Effect of dilutive securities:
Effect of dilutive securities									115	110
Stock Options and Other Dilutive Securities [Member]
Effect of dilutive securities:
Effect of dilutive securities									9	12	10