Quarterly Operating Results (Schedule Of Quarterly Operating Results) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Net sales	$ 7,890	$ 6,632	$ 5,395
Gross margin	3,566	3,049	2,093
Restructuring, impairment and other credits	129	(329)	228
Asbestos litigation charges	24	(49)	20
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	1,471	1,958	1,435
Provision for income taxes	(408)	(287)	74
Net income attributable to Corning Incorporated	2,805	3,558	2,008
Basic earnings per common share	$ 1.80	$ 2.28	$ 1.30
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 1.77	$ 2.25	$ 1.28
First Quarter [Member]
Net sales	1,923	1,553
Gross margin	874	731
Restructuring, impairment and other credits		(2)
Asbestos litigation charges	5	(52)
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	398	469
Provision for income taxes	(114)	(97)
Net income attributable to Corning Incorporated	748	816
Basic earnings per common share	$ 0.48	$ 0.52
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 0.47	$ 0.52
Second Quarter [Member]
Net sales	2,005	1,712
Gross margin	889	827
Asbestos litigation charges	5	5
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	428	474
Provision for income taxes	(123)	(31)
Net income attributable to Corning Incorporated	755	913
Basic earnings per common share	$ 0.48	$ 0.59
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 0.47	$ 0.58
Third Quarter [Member]
Net sales	2,075	1,602
Gross margin	978	724
Restructuring, impairment and other credits		(1)
Asbestos litigation charges	5	6
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	324	504
Provision for income taxes	(110)	(14)
Net income attributable to Corning Incorporated	811	785
Basic earnings per common share	$ 0.52	$ 0.50
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 0.51	$ 0.50
Fourth Quarter [Member]
Net sales	1,887	1,765
Gross margin	825	767
Restructuring, impairment and other credits	129	(326)
Asbestos litigation charges	9	(8)
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies	321	511
Provision for income taxes	(61)	(145)
Net income attributable to Corning Incorporated	$ 491	$ 1,044
Basic earnings per common share	$ 0.32	$ 0.67
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 0.31	$ 0.66