Reportable Segments (Reconciliation of Reportable Segment Net Income to Consolidated Net Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Research, development and engineering expenses		$ (244)	$ (215)	$ (728)	$ (623)
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies		32	31	102	148
Amortization of intangibles		27	18	68	53
Interest expense		(45)	(37)	(140)	(112)
Income tax (provision) benefit		(133)	(89)	(383)	(176)
Net income		625	390	774	915
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Research, development and engineering expenses	[1]	(213)	(190)	(627)	(550)
Income tax (provision) benefit		(139)	(114)	(341)	(340)
Net income	[2]	520	430	1,278	1,272
Operating Segments [Member] | Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net income		592	494	1,502	1,458
Operating Segments [Member] | Non Reportable Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Net income		(72)	(64)	(224)	(186)
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Impact of foreign currency movements not included in segment net income (loss)		(42)	(34)	(110)	(124)
Gain (loss) on foreign currency hedges related to translated earnings		230	26	66	(193)
Translation gain (loss) on Japanese yen-denominated debt		30	14	28	14
Litigation, regulatory and other legal matters		(11)		(143)	12
Research, development and engineering expenses		(31)	(25)	(99)	(72)
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	[3]	31	29	100	139
Amortization of intangibles		(27)	(18)	(68)	(53)
Interest expense		(38)	(27)	(111)	(79)
Income tax (provision) benefit		6	25	(42)	164
Other corporate items		$ (43)	$ (30)	$ (125)	$ (165)

[1] Research, development and engineering expenses include direct project spending that is identifiable to a segment.

[2] 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 income below.

[3] Primarily represents the equity earnings of HSG.