Investments (Affiliate Results Of Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Corning's equity in earnings	$ 810		$ 1,471		$ 1,958
Samsung Corning Precision Materials Co., Ltd. [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Net sales	3,139		4,171		4,856
Gross profit	2,080		2,942		3,731
Net income attributable	1,390		2,061		2,946
Corning's equity in earnings	699		1,031		1,473
Corning purchases	126		107		33
Corning transfers of assets, at cost, to affiliated companies	77	[1]	113	[1]	121	[1]
Dividends received	979		492		1,474
Royalty income from affiliated companies	83		219		265
Current assets	3,282		3,560
Noncurrent assets	3,856		3,890
Other current liabilities	406		498
Other long-term liabilities	17		241
Non-controlling interest	12		11
Dow Corning Corporation [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Net sales	6,119		6,427		5,997
Gross profit	1,413		1,989		2,135
Net income attributable	181		806		887
Corning's equity in earnings	90		404		444
Corning purchases	23		22		19
Dividends received	100		310		222
Current assets	4,117		4,873
Noncurrent assets	9,184		9,227	[2]
Short-term borrowings, including current portion of long-term debt	209		331
Other current liabilities	1,304		1,692
Long-term debt	844		1,440
Other long-term liabilities	7,371		7,052	[2]
Non-controlling interest	687		767
Correcting adjustment to noncurrent deferred tax assets	529
Correcting adjustment to noncurrent deferred tax liabilities	529
Affiliated Companies [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Net sales	10,131		11,613		11,717
Gross profit	3,708		5,216		6,107
Net income attributable	1,541		2,925		3,901
Corning's equity in earnings	810		1,471		1,958
Corning sales to affiliated companies	28		30		27
Corning purchases	167		138		59
Corning transfers of assets, at cost, to affiliated companies	77	[1]	113	[1]	121	[1]
Dividends received	1,089		820		1,712
Royalty income from affiliated companies	84		221		268
Corning services to affiliates	24		50		37
Current assets	8,249		9,088
Noncurrent assets	13,418		13,298	[2]
Short-term borrowings, including current portion of long-term debt	209		331
Other current liabilities	1,986		2,489
Long-term debt	847		1,445
Other long-term liabilities	7,445		7,161	[2]
Non-controlling interest	708		848
Balances due from affiliated companies	61		77
Balances due to affiliated companies	$ 37		$ 14

[1] Corning purchases machinery and equipment on behalf of Samsung Corning Precision Materials to support its capital expansion initiatives. The machinery and equipment are transferred to Samsung Corning Precision Materials at our cost basis, resulting in no revenue or gain being recognized on the transaction

[2] The prior year noncurrent assets and noncurrent liabilities have been revised to reflect certain correcting adjustments as reported by Dow Corning. Such correcting adjustments increased noncurrent deferred tax assets and noncurrent deferred tax liabilities by $529 million each for items that had previously been presented on a net basis. Those revisions had no impact on Corning's investment in or equity in earnings of Dow Corning for any of the periods presented