Note 20 - Reportable Segments - Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		May 31, 2016
Net sales		$ 2,476,000	$ 2,507,000	$ 2,360,000	$ 2,047,000	$ 2,231,000	$ 2,272,000	$ 2,343,000	$ 2,265,000	$ 9,390,000	[1]	$ 9,111,000	[1]	$ 9,715,000	[1]
Depreciation (1)										1,131,000		1,130,000		1,167,000
Amortization of purchased intangibles										64,000		54,000		33,000
Research, development and engineering expenses (2)										742,000		769,000		815,000
Restructuring, impairment and other charges										77,000		0		71,000
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliated companies		165,000	19,000	41,000	59,000	104,000	39,000	62,000	94,000	284,000		299,000		266,000
Income tax (provision) benefit		(832,000)	27,000	504,000	304,000	55,000	(6,000)	(110,000)	(86,000)	3,000		(147,000)		(1,096,000)
Net income		1,572,000	$ 284,000	$ 2,207,000	$ (368,000)	224,000	$ 212,000	$ 496,000	$ 407,000	3,695,000		1,339,000		2,472,000
Investment in affiliated companies, at equity		269,000				1,905,000				269,000		1,905,000				$ 4,800,000
Operating Segments [Member]
Net sales										9,390,000		9,111,000		9,715,000
Depreciation (1)	[2]									1,119,000		1,108,000		1,153,000
Amortization of purchased intangibles										63,000		53,000		32,000
Research, development and engineering expenses (2)	[3]									635,000		658,000		709,000
Restructuring, impairment and other charges										69,000				68,000
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliated companies										(5,000)		8,000
Income tax (provision) benefit										(565,000)		(718,000)		(833,000)
Net income	[4]									1,305,000		1,519,000		1,775,000
Investment in affiliated companies, at equity		324,000				337,000				324,000		337,000		311,000
Segment assets (4)	[5]	14,167,000				14,074,000				14,167,000		14,074,000		14,256,000
Capital expenditures										1,021,000		1,059,000		1,045,000
Display Technologies [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Net sales										3,238,000		3,086,000		3,851,000
Depreciation (1)	[2]									598,000		605,000		676,000
Amortization of purchased intangibles
Research, development and engineering expenses (2)	[3]									45,000		105,000		138,000
Restructuring, impairment and other charges										4,000				50,000
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliated companies										1,000		(9,000)		(20,000)
Income tax (provision) benefit										(372,000)		(499,000)		(608,000)
Net income	[4]									935,000		1,095,000		1,396,000
Investment in affiliated companies, at equity		41,000				43,000				41,000		43,000		63,000
Segment assets (4)	[5]	8,032,000				8,344,000				8,032,000		8,344,000		8,863,000
Capital expenditures										464,000		594,000		492,000
Optical Communications [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Net sales										3,005,000		2,980,000		2,652,000
Depreciation (1)	[2]									175,000		163,000		154,000
Amortization of purchased intangibles										35,000		32,000		10,000
Research, development and engineering expenses (2)	[3]									147,000		138,000		141,000
Restructuring, impairment and other charges										5,000				17,000
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliated companies
Income tax (provision) benefit										(129,000)		(115,000)		(111,000)
Net income	[4]									245,000		237,000		194,000
Investment in affiliated companies, at equity		(1,000)				1,000				(1,000)		1,000		2,000
Segment assets (4)	[5]	2,010,000				1,783,000				2,010,000		1,783,000		1,737,000
Capital expenditures										245,000		171,000		145,000
Environmental Technologies [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Net sales										1,032,000		1,053,000		1,092,000
Depreciation (1)	[2]									129,000		125,000		119,000
Amortization of purchased intangibles
Research, development and engineering expenses (2)	[3]									102,000		93,000		91,000
Restructuring, impairment and other charges										5,000
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliated companies														2,000
Income tax (provision) benefit										(65,000)		(78,000)		(89,000)
Net income	[4]									133,000		161,000		178,000
Investment in affiliated companies, at equity		32,000				32,000				32,000		32,000		32,000
Segment assets (4)	[5]	1,267,000				1,288,000				1,267,000		1,288,000		1,297,000
Capital expenditures										97,000		117,000		173,000
Specialty Materials [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Net sales										1,124,000		1,107,000		1,205,000
Depreciation (1)	[2]									109,000		112,000		113,000
Amortization of purchased intangibles
Research, development and engineering expenses (2)	[3]									126,000		113,000		140,000
Restructuring, impairment and other charges										12,000
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliated companies
Income tax (provision) benefit										(85,000)		(85,000)		(75,000)
Net income	[4]									174,000		167,000		138,000
Investment in affiliated companies, at equity
Segment assets (4)	[5]	1,604,000				1,407,000				1,604,000		1,407,000		1,288,000
Capital expenditures										120,000		88,000		104,000
Life Sciences [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Net sales										839,000		821,000		862,000
Depreciation (1)	[2]									58,000		60,000		60,000
Amortization of purchased intangibles										20,000		20,000		22,000
Research, development and engineering expenses (2)	[3]									24,000		23,000		22,000
Restructuring, impairment and other charges										3,000				1,000
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliated companies
Income tax (provision) benefit										(28,000)		(30,000)		(33,000)
Net income	[4]									58,000		61,000		67,000
Investment in affiliated companies, at equity
Segment assets (4)	[5]	504,000				514,000				504,000		514,000		553,000
Capital expenditures										39,000		32,000		30,000
Other Segments [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Net sales										152,000		64,000		53,000
Depreciation (1)	[2]									50,000		43,000		31,000
Amortization of purchased intangibles										8,000		1,000
Research, development and engineering expenses (2)	[3]									191,000		186,000		177,000
Restructuring, impairment and other charges										40,000
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliated companies										(6,000)		17,000		18,000
Income tax (provision) benefit										114,000		89,000		83,000
Net income	[4]									(240,000)		(202,000)		(198,000)
Investment in affiliated companies, at equity		252,000				261,000				252,000		261,000		214,000
Segment assets (4)	[5]	$ 750,000				$ 738,000				750,000		738,000		518,000
Capital expenditures										$ 56,000		$ 57,000		$ 101,000

[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] 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.

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