| Document and Entity Information | Feb. 20, 2020 |
| Cover [Abstract] | |
| Entity Registrant Name | TENNECO INC |
| Entity Address, State or Province | IL |
| Amendment Flag | true |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0001024725 |
| Document Type | 8-K/A |
| Document Period End Date | Feb. 20, 2020 |
| Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code | DE |
| Entity File Number | 1-12387 |
| Entity Tax Identification Number | 76-0515284 |
| Entity Address, Address Line One | 500 NORTH FIELD DRIVE |
| Entity Address, City or Town | LAKE FOREST |
| Entity Address, Postal Zip Code | 60045 |
| City Area Code | 847 |
| Local Phone Number | 482-5000 |
| Written Communications | false |
| Soliciting Material | false |
| Pre-commencement Tender Offer | false |
| Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer | false |
| Title of 12(b) Security | Class A Voting Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share |
| Trading Symbol | TEN |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Entity Emerging Growth Company | false |
| Amendment Description | On February 20, 2020, Tenneco Inc. (the “Company”) filed a Current Report on Form 8-K to report under Item 2.02 the announcement of its fourth quarter and full year 2019 results of operations and furnished a copy of the press release announcing such results as Exhibit 99.1 thereto (the “Original Form 8-K”). The Company is filing this Amendment No. 1 on Form 8-K/A to furnish a press release announcing that the Company is updating certain fourth quarter and full year 2019 results and reconciling the financial results disclosed in the Original Form 8-K to the final results included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. |
