Contingencies - Asbestos (Details)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Contingencies - Asbestos (Details)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 1993 USD ($)
Asbestos
Sale of goods containing asbestos from 1948 to 1958	$ 40,000,000
OI Inc.
Asbestos
Number of pending plaintiffs and claimants \| item	1,400
Approximate number of claims disposed of to date \| item	399,000
Average indemnity payment per claim	$ 9,500
Payments for Asbestos-Related Liabilities		$ 125,000,000	$ 138,000,000	$ 148,000,000
Asbestos-related liability, total amount accrued beginning in 1993 through 2016 before insurance recoveries	$ 4,900,000,000				$ 975,000,000
Asbestos related charges		0	16,000,000	46,000,000
Cash payments per claim disposed including legal costs		71,000	95,000	$ 81,000
Accrual of asbestos related liabilty		$ 692,000,000	$ 817,000,000
Period for number of claims to be received	10 years
Damages unspecified or sufficient to invoke jurisdictional minimum \| OI Inc.
Asbestos
Percentage of asbestos plaintiffs, approximate percentage		88.00%
Damages of $15 million or less \| OI Inc.
Asbestos
Percentage of asbestos plaintiffs, approximate percentage		9.00%
Damages greater than $15 million but less than $100 million \| OI Inc.
Asbestos
Percentage of asbestos plaintiffs, approximate percentage		3.00%
Minimum \| Damages greater than $15 million but less than $100 million \| OI Inc.
Asbestos
Estimated amount of income-tax assessment including penalties and interest		$ 15,000,000
Maximum \| OI Inc.
Asbestos
Estimated amount of income-tax assessment including penalties and interest		825,000,000
Maximum \| Damages of $15 million or less \| OI Inc.
Asbestos
Estimated amount of income-tax assessment including penalties and interest		15,000,000
Maximum \| Damages greater than $15 million but less than $100 million \| OI Inc.
Asbestos
Estimated amount of income-tax assessment including penalties and interest		$ 100,000,000

OWENS-ILLINOIS GROUP INC 10-Q