| Component: (Network and Table) | |
|---|---|
| Network | 1122 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Reconciliation of U.S. Federal Statutory Rate to Alcoa's Effective Tax Rate for Continuing Operations (Detail) (http://www.alcoa.com/taxonomy/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxesReconciliationOfUSFederalStatutoryRateToAlcoasEffectiveTaxRateForContinuingOperations) | 
| Table | Reconciliation Of Effective Income Tax Rate [Table] | 
| Reporting Entity [Axis] | 0000004281 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) | 
| Legal Entity [Axis] | Entity [Domain] | 
| Income Taxes [Line Items] | Period [Axis] | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-01-01 - 2012-12-31 | 2011-01-01 - 2011-12-31 | 2010-01-01 - 2010-12-31 | |
| U.S. federal statutory rate | 0.35   | 0.35   | 0.35   | 
| Taxes on foreign operations | (.001)  | (.110)  | (.054)  | 
| Permanent differences on restructuring charges and asset disposals | .108   | .007   | |
| Audit and other adjustments to prior years' accruals | .035   | (.011)  | .012   | 
| Noncontrolling interests | .038   | .008   | .026   | 
| Statutory tax rate and law changes | (.004)  | .008   | (.051)  | 
| Tax law change related to Medicare Part D | .144   | ||
| Changes in valuation allowances | .152   | .023   | (.087)  | 
| Amortization of goodwill related to intercompany stock sales/reorganizations | (.077)  | (.028)  | (.052)  | 
| Change in legal structure of investment | (.041)  | ||
| Interest income related to income tax positions | (.013)  | (.002)  | |
| Company-owned life insurance/split-dollar net premiums | (.039)  | (.002)  | (.018)  | 
| Other | (.008)  | .004   | (.008)  | 
| Effective tax rate | .500   | .240   | .269   |