Quarterly Operating Results (Details) - Quarterly Operating Results - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ 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
Quarterly Operating Results [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,231	$ 2,272	$ 2,343	$ 2,265	$ 2,404	$ 2,540	$ 2,482	$ 2,289	$ 9,111	[1]	$ 9,715	[1]	$ 7,819	[1]
Gross margin	857	892	975	929	996	1,089	1,032	935	3,653		4,052		3,324
Restructuring, impairment and other charges					20		34	17			71		67
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	104	39	62	94	23	95	62	86	299		266		547
Provision for income taxes	55	(6)	(110)	(86)	(349)	(395)	(172)	(180)	(147)		(1,096)		(512)
Net income attributable to Corning Incorporated	$ 224	$ 212	$ 496	$ 407	$ 988	$ 1,014	$ 169	$ 301	$ 1,339		$ 2,472		$ 1,961
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

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