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Restructuring And Other Charges (Activity And Reserve Balances For Restructuring Charges) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring reserve beginning balance | $ 116 |  | $ 226 |  | $ 328 |
Cash payments | (54) |  | (108) |  | (221) |
Restructuring charges | 130 |  | 96 |  | 199 |
Other | (58) | [1] | (98) | [1] | (80) | [1]
Restructuring reserve ending balance | 134 |  | 116 |  | 226 |
Restructuring and other charges | 281 |  | 207 |  | 237 |
Restructuring and other charges, after-tax and noncontrolling interests | 181 |  | 130 |  | 151 |
Reserves related to the wire harness and electrical portion of the EES business |  |  |  |  | 26 |
Layoff Costs [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring reserve beginning balance | 53 |  | 160 |  | 251 |
Cash payments | (45) |  | (93) |  | (203) |
Restructuring charges | 93 |  | 43 |  | 186 |
Other | (24) | [1] | (57) | [1] | (74) | [1]
Restructuring reserve ending balance | 77 |  | 53 |  | 160 |
Restructuring and other charges | 93 |  |  |  | 177 |
Restructuring and other charges, after-tax and noncontrolling interests | 68 |  |  |  | 121 |
Other Exit Costs [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring reserve beginning balance | 63 |  | 66 |  | 77 |
Cash payments | (9) |  | (15) |  | (18) |
Restructuring charges | 37 |  | 53 |  | 13 |
Other | (34) | [1] | (41) | [1] | (6) | [1]
Restructuring reserve ending balance | 57 |  | 63 |  | 66 |
Restructuring and other charges | 36 |  | 46 |  |  |
Restructuring and other charges, after-tax and noncontrolling interests | 23 |  | 29 |  |  |
Environmental Remediation [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other charges | 18 |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other charges, after-tax and noncontrolling interests |  |  | 14 |  |  |
Asset Retirement Obligations [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other charges | 17 |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring and other charges, after-tax and noncontrolling interests |  |  | $ 30 |  |  |
[1] | Other includes reversals of previously recorded restructuring charges and the effects of foreign currency translation. In 2011, Other for other exit costs also included a reclassification of the following restructuring charges: $18 in environmental and $17 in asset retirement obligations, as these liabilities are included in Alcoa's separate reserves for environmental remediation (see Note N) and asset retirement obligations (see Note C), respectively. In 2010, Other for other exit costs also included a reclassification of the following restructuring charges: $30 in asset retirement and $14 in environmental obligations, as these liabilities are included in Alcoa's separate reserves for asset retirement obligations (see Note C) and environmental remediation (see Note N), respectively. In 2009, Other for layoff costs also included a reduction of $26 for reserves related to the wire harness and electrical portion of the EES business as Platinum Equity assumed these obligations (see Note F).

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- Definition Amount charged against earnings in the period after-tax and noncontrolling interests for incurred and estimated costs associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a program that is planned and controlled by management, and materially changes either the scope of a business undertaken by an entity, or the manner in which that business is conducted. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of adjustment made during the period to reduce the reserve by the amount of obligations assumed by the buyer of an entity's business in a divestiture transaction. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The charge against earnings in the period, comprised of costs associated with restructuring activities not otherwise specified in the taxonomy pursuant to a duly authorized plan, excluding a discontinued operation as defined by generally accepted accounting principles. Costs of such activities include those for one-time termination benefits, termination of an operating lease or other contract, consolidating or closing facilities, and relocating employees, but excludes costs associated with the retirement of a long-lived asset and severance costs associated with established compensation plans. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394695&loc=d3e140864-122747 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 146 -Paragraph 20 -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 Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394695&loc=d3e140904-122747 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section P -Subsection 3, 4 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
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- Definition Amount charged against earnings in the period for incurred and estimated costs associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, excluding asset retirement obligations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394695&loc=d3e140904-122747 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section P -Subsection 3, 4 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394695&loc=d3e140864-122747 + Details
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- Definition Carrying amount (including both current and noncurrent portions of the accrual) as of the balance sheet date pertaining to a specified type of cost associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructuring pursuant to a duly authorized plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) -Number 95-3 -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 SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section P -Subsection 3, 4 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394695&loc=d3e140904-122747 + Details
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- Definition Reserve increase representing the amount charged against earnings in the period for a specified incurred and estimated type of cost associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructuring pursuant to a duly authorized plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 146 -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 Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 + Details
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- Definition Amount of cash paid in the period to fully or partially settle a specified, previously accrued type of restructuring cost. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b)(2)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394695&loc=d3e140904-122747 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) (2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) -Number 95-3 -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 SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section P -Subsection 3, 4 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 146 -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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