Financial Information for Subsidiary Guarantors and Non-Guarantors (Details 4) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Cash Flows
Cash provided by (utilized in) operating activities	$ (119)	$ (65)
Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(94)	(73)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(5)
Net cash proceeds related to sale of assets and other		11
Cash utilized in investing activities	(94)	(67)
Financing Activities:
Net distribution to OI Inc.	(13)	(30)
Additions to long term debt	639	119
Repayments of long term debt	(483)	(62)
Decrease in short term debt	4	(20)
Net receipts for hedging activity		8
Payment of finance fees	(5)
Cash provided by financing activities	142	15
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	(1)	16
Decrease in cash	(72)	(101)
Cash at beginning of period	431	400
Cash at end of period	359	299
Parent
Financing Activities:
Net distribution to OI Inc.	(13)	(30)
Change in intercompany transactions	13	30
Issuer
Cash Flows
Cash provided by (utilized in) operating activities	(18)	45
Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(37)	(29)
Cash utilized in investing activities	(37)	(29)
Financing Activities:
Change in intercompany transactions	6	(71)
Additions to long term debt	143	110
Repayments of long term debt	(94)	(55)
Cash provided by financing activities	55	(16)
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash Flows
Cash provided by (utilized in) operating activities	22	42
Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment		(1)
Cash utilized in investing activities		(1)
Financing Activities:
Change in intercompany transactions	(16)	(42)
Cash provided by financing activities	(16)	(42)
Decrease in cash	6	(1)
Cash at beginning of period	10	21
Cash at end of period	16	20
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash Flows
Cash provided by (utilized in) operating activities	(105)	(80)
Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(57)	(43)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(5)
Net cash proceeds related to sale of assets and other		11
Cash utilized in investing activities	(57)	(37)
Financing Activities:
Change in intercompany transactions	(21)	11
Additions to long term debt	496	9
Repayments of long term debt	(389)	(7)
Decrease in short term debt	4	(20)
Net receipts for hedging activity		8
Payment of finance fees	(5)
Cash provided by financing activities	85	1
Effect of exchange rate change on cash	(1)	16
Decrease in cash	(78)	(100)
Cash at beginning of period	421	379
Cash at end of period	343	279
Eliminations
Cash Flows
Cash provided by (utilized in) operating activities	(18)	(72)
Financing Activities:
Change in intercompany transactions	18	72
Cash provided by financing activities	$ 18	$ 72