Quarterly Operating Results (Unaudited) - Quarterly Operating Results (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ 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
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]
Gross margin	990,000	1,041,000	951,000	764,000	857,000	892,000	975,000	929,000	3,746,000		3,653,000		4,052,000
Equity in earnings 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
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(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 attributable to Corning Incorporated	$ 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
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.64	$ 0.27	$ 2.06	$ (0.36)	$ 0.17	$ 0.16	$ 0.38	$ 0.30	$ 3.53		$ 1.02		$ 1.82
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.47	$ 0.26	$ 1.87	$ (0.36)	$ 0.17	$ 0.15	$ 0.36	$ 0.29	$ 3.23		$ 1		$ 1.73

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