Reportable Segments (Schedule Of Operating Segments Information By Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales						$ 8,012		$ 7,890		$ 6,632
Total impairment charges	44		130			81		130		(324)
Restructuring, impairment and other (credits) charges						133		129		(329)
Net income (loss)						1,723		2,802		3,556
Investment in affiliated companies, at equity	4,912		4,723			4,912		4,723
Segment assets	29,375		27,848			29,375		27,848		25,833
Capital expenditures						1,801		2,432		1,007
Restructuring charges						89
Foreign tax credits					265					265
Display Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales						2,909		3,145		3,011
Depreciation						514	[1]	511	[1]	513	[1]
Research, development and engineering expenses						103	[2]	91	[2]	90	[2]
Restructuring, impairment and other (credits) charges						21	[3]			(324)	[3]
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliated companies						692	[4]	1,027		1,452	[4]
Income tax (provision) benefit						(367)		(501)		(618)
Net income (loss)						1,602	[5]	2,349	[5]	2,993	[5]
Investment in affiliated companies, at equity	3,262		3,132			3,262		3,132		2,766
Segment assets	9,953	[6]	10,387	[6]		9,953	[6]	10,387	[6]	9,138	[6]
Capital expenditures						845		1,304		497
Restructuring charges						18
Foreign tax credits										61
Telecommunications [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales						2,130		2,072		1,712
Depreciation						130	[1]	123	[1]	118	[1]
Amortization of purchased intangibles						9		7		1
Research, development and engineering expenses						138	[2]	125	[2]	115	[2]
Restructuring, impairment and other (credits) charges						39	[3]	(1)	[3]	(3)	[3]
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliated companies								3		3	[4]
Income tax (provision) benefit						(58)		(82)		(46)
Net income (loss)						155	[5]	195	[5]	98	[5]
Investment in affiliated companies, at equity	17		19			17		19		19
Segment assets	1,435	[6]	1,201	[6]		1,435	[6]	1,201	[6]	988	[6]
Capital expenditures						311		195		69
Environmental Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales						964		998		816
Depreciation						117	[1]	107	[1]	105	[1]
Research, development and engineering expenses						100	[2]	96	[2]	96	[2]
Restructuring, impairment and other (credits) charges						3	[3]
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliated companies						1	[4]	1		5	[4]
Income tax (provision) benefit						(57)		(58)		(20)
Net income (loss)						115	[5]	121	[5]	43	[5]
Investment in affiliated companies, at equity	30		31			30		31		34
Segment assets	1,103	[6]	1,089	[6]		1,103	[6]	1,089	[6]	915	[6]
Capital expenditures						154		174		65
Specialty Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales						1,346		1,074		578
Depreciation						153	[1]	156	[1]	72	[1]
Amortization of purchased intangibles								1
Research, development and engineering expenses						144	[2]	137	[2]	87	[2]
Total impairment charges			130			44		130
Restructuring, impairment and other (credits) charges						54	[3]	130	[3]	(2)	[3]
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliated companies								4
Income tax (provision) benefit						(69)		24		13
Net income (loss)						142	[5]	(36)	[5]	(32)	[5]
Investment in affiliated companies, at equity	4		4			4		4
Segment assets	1,707	[6]	1,455	[6]		1,707	[6]	1,455	[6]	869	[6]
Capital expenditures						93		348		143
Life Sciences [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales						657		595		508
Depreciation						44	[1]	34	[1]	32	[1]
Amortization of purchased intangibles						10		7		7
Research, development and engineering expenses						22	[2]	19	[2]	16	[2]
Restructuring, impairment and other (credits) charges						2	[3]
Income tax (provision) benefit						(14)		(29)		(30)
Net income (loss)						31	[5]	61	[5]	60	[5]
Segment assets	552	[6]	363	[6]		552	[6]	363	[6]	302	[6]
Capital expenditures						47		57		31
All Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales						6		6		7
Depreciation						14	[1]	12	[1]	12	[1]
Research, development and engineering expenses						124	[2]	98	[2]	114	[2]
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliated companies						17	[4]	15		45	[4]
Income tax (provision) benefit						52		39		50
Net income (loss)						(98)	[5]	(78)	[5]	(75)	[5]
Investment in affiliated companies, at equity	262		243			262		243		238
Segment assets	351	[6]	396	[6]		351	[6]	396	[6]	240	[6]
Capital expenditures						52		116		43
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales						8,012		7,890		6,632
Depreciation						972	[1]	943	[1]	852	[1]
Amortization of purchased intangibles						19		15		8
Research, development and engineering expenses						631	[2]	566	[2]	518	[2]
Restructuring, impairment and other (credits) charges						119	[3]	129	[3]	(329)	[3]
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliated companies						710	[4]	1,050		1,505	[4]
Income tax (provision) benefit						(513)		(607)		(651)
Net income (loss)						1,947	[5]	2,612	[5]	3,087	[5]
Investment in affiliated companies, at equity	3,575		3,429			3,575		3,429		3,057
Segment assets	15,101	[6]	14,891	[6]		15,101	[6]	14,891	[6]	12,452	[6]
Capital expenditures						1,502		2,194		848
Corning Inc. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total impairment charges	$ 57

[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] In 2012, Corning recorded a $44 million impairment charge in the Specialty Materials segment related to certain assets located in Japan used for the production of large cover glass. In 2011, Corning recorded a $130 million impairment charge in the Specialty Materials segment related to certain assets located in Japan used for the production of large cover glass. In 2010, Corning recorded $324 million on the settlement of business interruption and property damage insurance claims in the Display Technologies segment resulting from earthquake activity near the Shizuoka, Japan facility and a power disruption at the Taichung, Taiwan facility in 2009

[4] In 2012, equity in earnings of affiliated companies in the Display Technologies segment included a $18 million restructuring charge for our share of costs for headcount reductions and asset write-offs. In 2010, equity in earnings of affiliated companies in the Display Technologies segment included a $61 million credit for our share of a revised Samsung Corning Precision Materials tax holiday calculation agreed to by the Korean National Tax service

[5] 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

[6] Segment assets include inventory, accounts receivable, property and associated equity companies and cost investments