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Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets (Changes In The Carrying Amount Of Goodwill) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Goodwill gross, beginning balance | $ 5,150 |  | $ 5,082 |
Accumulated impairment losses | (28) |  | (28) |
Goodwill, net | 5,122 |  | 5,054 |
Acquisition of businesses | 150 |  | 76 |
Translation | (21) |  | (8) |
Goodwill gross, ending balance | 5,279 |  | 5,150 |
Accumulated impairment losses | (28) |  | (28) |
Goodwill, net | 5,251 |  | 5,122 |
Alumina [Member] |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Goodwill gross, beginning balance | 12 |  | 17 |
Goodwill, net | 12 |  | 17 |
Translation | (1) |  | (5) |
Segment reporting, goodwill | 163 |  |  |
Goodwill gross, ending balance | 11 |  | 12 |
Goodwill, net | 11 |  | 12 |
Primary Metals [Member] |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Goodwill gross, beginning balance | 993 |  | 939 |
Goodwill, net | 993 |  | 939 |
Acquisition of businesses |  |  | 48 |
Translation | (2) |  | 6 |
Segment reporting, goodwill | 850 |  |  |
Goodwill gross, ending balance | 991 |  | 993 |
Goodwill, net | 991 |  | 993 |
Flat-Rolled Products [Member] |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Goodwill gross, beginning balance | 207 |  | 210 |
Goodwill, net | 207 |  | 210 |
Translation | 1 |  | (3) |
Segment reporting, goodwill | 63 |  |  |
Goodwill gross, ending balance | 208 |  | 207 |
Goodwill, net | 208 |  | 207 |
Engineered Products And Solutions [Member] |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Goodwill gross, beginning balance | 2,551 |  | 2,532 |
Accumulated impairment losses | (28) |  | (28) |
Goodwill, net | 2,523 |  | 2,504 |
Acquisition of businesses | 150 |  | 28 |
Translation | (7) |  | (9) |
Segment reporting, goodwill | 273 |  |  |
Goodwill gross, ending balance | 2,694 |  | 2,551 |
Accumulated impairment losses | (28) |  | (28) |
Goodwill, net | 2,666 |  | 2,523 |
Corporate [Member] |  |  |  |
Goodwill [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Goodwill gross, beginning balance | 1,387 | [1] | 1,384 | [1]
Goodwill, net | 1,387 | [1] | 1,384 | [1]
Translation | (12) | [1] | 3 | [1]
Segment reporting, goodwill | 1,349 |  |  |
Goodwill gross, ending balance | 1,375 | [1] | 1,387 | [1]
Goodwill, net | $ 1,375 | [1] | $ 1,387 | [1]
[1] | As of December 31, 2011, $1,349 of the amount reflected in Corporate is allocated to each of Alcoa's four reportable segments ($163 to Alumina, $850 to Primary Metals, $63 to Flat-Rolled Products, and $273 to Engineered Products and Solutions) included in the table above for purposes of impairment testing (see Note A). This goodwill is reflected in Corporate for segment reporting purposes because it is not included in management's assessment of performance by the four reportable segments.

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- Definition Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, which is the cumulative amount paid and (if applicable) the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, adjusted for any amortization recognized prior to the adoption of any changes in generally accepted accounting principles (as applicable) and for any impairment charges, in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired in one or more business combination transactions. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph e -Clause 1 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 43 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 68 -Subparagraph l -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph e -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 34 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905597&loc=d3e13816-109267 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266 Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 72 -Subparagraph d -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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- Definition The aggregate amount of goodwill acquired in the period and allocated to the reportable segment. The value is stated at fair value based on the purchase price allocation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905597&loc=d3e13816-109267 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 72 -Subparagraph d -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph e -Clause 2 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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