Segments - UBBP (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	$ 3,869		$ 4,736	$ 3,936
USG Boral Building Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,052		1,003	927	[1]
Net income attributable to UBBP	99		96	67	[2]
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization	43		43	31
Capital expenditures	45		49	40
Assets	1,292		1,303	1,435
Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets [Abstract]
Long-lived assets	653		680	731
USG Boral Building Products | Reportable geographical components | Australia
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	381		345	312	[1]
Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets [Abstract]
Long-lived assets	217		216	245
USG Boral Building Products | Reportable geographical components | South Korea
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	223		200	197	[1]
Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets [Abstract]
Long-lived assets	107		106	113
USG Boral Building Products | Reportable geographical components | Thailand
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	141		145	133	[1]
Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets [Abstract]
Long-lived assets	75		72	72
USG Boral Building Products | Reportable geographical components | China
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	103		120	122	[1]
Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets [Abstract]
Long-lived assets	97		116	127
USG Boral Building Products | Reportable geographical components | Oman
Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets [Abstract]
Long-lived assets	86		103	96
USG Boral Building Products | Reportable geographical components | Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	255		234	206	[1]
Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets [Abstract]
Long-lived assets	71		67	78
USG Boral Building Products | Geographic transfers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(51)		(41)	(43)	[1]
USG Boral Building Products | USG Boral Building Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,052		1,003	927	[2]
Operating profit	$ 133	[3]	$ 124	$ 95	[2]

[1] Operating results are presented for UBBP for the ten months ended December 31, 2014.

[2] Operating results are presented for UBBP for the ten months ended December 31, 2014.

[3] Year ended December 31, 2016 includes long-lived asset impairment charges of $8 million for China and of $14 million for Oman.