Reportable Segments (Reportable Segments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Net sales		$ 2,500	$ 2,375
Depreciation		304	260
Research, development and engineering expenses		241	202
Income tax (provision) benefit		(124)	66
Net (loss) income		(589)	86
Operating Segments [Member]
Net sales		2,513	2,421
Depreciation	[1]	283	258
Research, development and engineering expenses	[2]	202	175
Income tax (provision) benefit		(92)	(113)
Net (loss) income	[3]	345	420
Display Technologies [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Net sales		745	782
Depreciation	[1]	144	129
Research, development and engineering expenses	[2]	23	19
Income tax (provision) benefit		(49)	(65)
Net (loss) income	[3]	185	245
Optical Communications [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Net sales		886	818
Depreciation	[1]	52	45
Research, development and engineering expenses	[2]	49	37
Income tax (provision) benefit		(30)	(30)
Net (loss) income	[3]	109	110
Specialty Materials [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Net sales		278	300
Depreciation	[1]	33	29
Research, development and engineering expenses	[2]	39	36
Income tax (provision) benefit		(12)	(15)
Net (loss) income	[3]	46	57
Environmental Technologies [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Net sales		322	275
Depreciation	[1]	29	31
Research, development and engineering expenses	[2]	29	25
Income tax (provision) benefit		(14)	(12)
Net (loss) income	[3]	52	44
Life Sciences [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Net sales		232	210
Depreciation	[1]	14	12
Research, development and engineering expenses	[2]	5	6
Income tax (provision) benefit		(7)	(6)
Net (loss) income	[3]	27	24
All Other [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Net sales		50	36
Depreciation	[1]	11	12
Research, development and engineering expenses	[2]	57	52
Income tax (provision) benefit		20	15
Net (loss) income	[3]	$ (74)	$ (60)

[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. Expenses that are not allocated to the segments are included in the reconciliation of reportable segment net income to consolidated net (loss) income below.