Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Net income (loss) attributable to Corning Incorporated		$ 292	$ 625	$ 738	$ (589)	$ (1,412)	$ 390	$ 439	$ 86	$ 1,066	$ (497)	$ 3,695
Less: Series A convertible preferred stock dividend										98	98	98
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders – basic										968	(595)	3,597
Plus: Series A convertible preferred stock dividend										98		98
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders – diluted										$ 1,066	$ (595)	$ 3,695
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)										816	895	1,020
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and other dilutive securities (in shares)										10		9
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)										941	895	1,144
Basic earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)		$ 0.27	$ 0.75	$ 0.87	$ (0.72)	$ (1.66)	$ 0.41	$ 0.46	$ 0.07	$ 1.19	$ (0.66)	$ 3.53
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)		$ 0.26	$ 0.67	$ 0.78	$ (0.72)	$ (1.66)	$ 0.39	$ 0.42	$ 0.07	$ 1.13	$ (0.66)	$ 3.23
Anti-dilutive potential shares excluded from diluted earnings per common share:
Anti-dilutive potential shares excluded from diluted earnings (loss) per common share (in shares)										2	128	15
Stock Compensation Plan [Member]
Anti-dilutive potential shares excluded from diluted earnings per common share:
Anti-dilutive potential shares excluded from diluted earnings (loss) per common share (in shares)										2	13	15
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and other dilutive securities (in shares)	[1]									115		115
Anti-dilutive potential shares excluded from diluted earnings per common share:
Anti-dilutive potential shares excluded from diluted earnings (loss) per common share (in shares)	[1]										115

[1] For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Series A preferred stock was anti-dilutive and therefore excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings (loss) per share.