Financial Information for Subsidiary Guarantors and Non-Guarantors (Details 4) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Cash Flows
Cash provided by (utilized in) continuing operating activities	$ 62	$ 162
Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(124)	(153)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(5)	(147)
Net cash proceeds from asset sales and other	20
Proceeds from collection of minority partner loan	9
Cash utilized in investing activities	(100)	(300)
Financing Activities:
Net distribution to OI Inc.	(57)	(66)
Additions to short term debt	31	61
Borrowings of long term debt	119	1,451
Payments of long term debt	(128)	(1,644)
Net receipts for hedging activity	27	(9)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	(23)	(31)
Payment of finance fees		(18)
Cash utilized in financing activities	(31)	(256)
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	5	14
Decrease in cash	(64)	(380)
Cash at beginning of period	400	640
Cash at end of period	336	260
Parent
Financing Activities:
Net distribution to OI Inc.	(57)	(66)
Change in intercompany transactions	57	66
Issuer
Cash Flows
Cash provided by (utilized in) continuing operating activities	82	190
Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(35)	(34)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(8)
Cash utilized in investing activities	(35)	(42)
Financing Activities:
Change in intercompany transactions	(47)	65
Borrowings of long term debt	110	933
Payments of long term debt	(110)	(1,137)
Payment of finance fees		(9)
Cash utilized in financing activities	(47)	(148)
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash Flows
Cash provided by (utilized in) continuing operating activities	23	34
Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(1)	(2)
Cash utilized in investing activities	(1)	(2)
Financing Activities:
Change in intercompany transactions	42	(211)
Payments of long term debt		(1)
Cash utilized in financing activities	42	(212)
Decrease in cash	64	(180)
Cash at beginning of period	21	230
Cash at end of period	85	50
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash Flows
Cash provided by (utilized in) continuing operating activities	(52)	(56)
Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(88)	(117)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(5)	(139)
Net cash proceeds from asset sales and other	20
Proceeds from collection of minority partner loan	9
Cash utilized in investing activities	(64)	(256)
Financing Activities:
Change in intercompany transactions	(43)	74
Additions to short term debt	31	61
Borrowings of long term debt	9	518
Payments of long term debt	(18)	(506)
Net receipts for hedging activity	27	(9)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	(23)	(31)
Payment of finance fees		(9)
Cash utilized in financing activities	(17)	98
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	5	14
Decrease in cash	(128)	(200)
Cash at beginning of period	379	410
Cash at end of period	251	210
Eliminations
Cash Flows
Cash provided by (utilized in) continuing operating activities	9	(6)
Financing Activities:
Change in intercompany transactions	(9)	6
Cash utilized in financing activities	$ (9)	$ 6