Consolidating Guarantor Financial Information (Schedule of Consolidating Statement of Operations) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Sep. 30, 2013
Sep. 30, 2014
Sep. 30, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Net sales $ 1,769 $ 1,636 $ 5,243 $ 4,894
Cost of sales (1,333) (1,290) (4,021) (3,896)
Gross profit 436 346 1,222 998
Selling, general and administrative expenses (118) (97) (341) (316)
Amortization of intangible assets (5) (6) (16) (26)
Research and development expenses (22) (24) (68) (73)
Other (charges) gains, net 20 (4) 21 (11)
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net 1 (2) (1) (5)
Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net (2) (2) (5) (3)
Operating profit (loss) 310 211 812 564
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates 52 41 193 150
Interest expense (41) (43) (120) (130)
Refinancing expense (4) (1) (4) (1)
Interest income 3 0 5 1
Dividend income - cost investments 29 22 87 69
Other income (expense), net (2) (2) (1) 1
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax 347 228 972 654
Income tax (provision) benefit (90) (57) (262) (209)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations 257 171 710 445
Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations (7) 1 (8) 3
Gain (loss) on disposition of discontinued operations 0 0 0 0
Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations 2 0 3 (1)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations (5) 1 (5) 2
Net earnings (loss) 252 172 705 447
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests 1 0 3 0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation 253 172 708 447
Parent Guarantor [Member]
        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Net sales 0 0 0 0
Cost of sales 0 0 0 0
Gross profit 0 0 0 0
Selling, general and administrative expenses 0 0 0 0
Amortization of intangible assets 0 0 0 0
Research and development expenses 0 0 0 0
Other (charges) gains, net 0 0 0 0
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net 0 0 0 0
Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net 0 0 0 0
Operating profit (loss) 0 0 0 0
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates 252 172 706 443
Interest expense 0 0 0 0
Refinancing expense 0 0 0 0
Interest income 0 0 0 0
Dividend income - cost investments 0 0 0 0
Other income (expense), net 0 0 0 0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax 252 172 706 443
Income tax (provision) benefit 1 0 2 4
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations 253 172 708 447
Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations 0 0 0 0
Gain (loss) on disposition of discontinued operations 0 0 0 0
Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations 0 0 0 0
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations 0 0 0 0
Net earnings (loss) 253 172 708 447
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests 0 0 0 0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation 253 172 708 447
Issuer [Member]
        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Net sales 0 0 0 0
Cost of sales 0 0 0 0
Gross profit 0 0 0 0
Selling, general and administrative expenses 0 0 0 0
Amortization of intangible assets 0 0 0 0
Research and development expenses 0 0 0 0
Other (charges) gains, net 0 0 0 0
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net 0 0 0 0
Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net 0 0 0 0
Operating profit (loss) 0 0 0 0
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates 291 200 801 528
Interest expense (52) (48) (147) (144)
Refinancing expense (4) (1) (4) (1)
Interest income 18 14 49 41
Dividend income - cost investments 0 0 0 0
Other income (expense), net 0 0 0 0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax 253 165 699 424
Income tax (provision) benefit (1) 7 7 19
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations 252 172 706 443
Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations 0 0 0 0
Gain (loss) on disposition of discontinued operations 0 0 0 0
Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations 0 0 0 0
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations 0 0 0 0
Net earnings (loss) 252 172 706 443
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests 0 0 0 0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation 252 172 706 443
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Net sales 749 709 2,135 2,121
Cost of sales (492) (477) (1,454) (1,455)
Gross profit 257 232 681 666
Selling, general and administrative expenses (18) (18) (45) (65)
Amortization of intangible assets (1) (2) (5) (9)
Research and development expenses (12) (17) (38) (48)
Other (charges) gains, net 21 (1) 21 3
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net 0 0 0 0
Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net (3) 0 (8) 0
Operating profit (loss) 244 194 606 547
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates 49 35 127 117
Interest expense (6) (8) (18) (27)
Refinancing expense 0 0 0 0
Interest income 18 17 53 48
Dividend income - cost investments 0 0 0 0
Other income (expense), net 0 0 4 0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax 305 238 772 685
Income tax (provision) benefit (82) (63) (204) (176)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations 223 175 568 509
Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations (7) 1 (8) 3
Gain (loss) on disposition of discontinued operations 0 0 0 0
Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations 2 0 3 (1)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations (5) 1 (5) 2
Net earnings (loss) 218 176 563 511
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests 0 0 0 0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation 218 176 563 511
Non-Guarantors [Member]
        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Net sales 1,340 1,250 3,997 3,699
Cost of sales (1,133) (1,136) (3,433) (3,369)
Gross profit 207 114 564 330
Selling, general and administrative expenses (100) (79) (296) (251)
Amortization of intangible assets (4) (4) (11) (17)
Research and development expenses (10) (7) (30) (25)
Other (charges) gains, net (1) (3) 0 (10)
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net 1 (2) (1) (5)
Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net 1 (2) 3 (3)
Operating profit (loss) 94 17 229 19
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates 40 30 165 124
Interest expense (20) (19) (60) (51)
Refinancing expense 0 0 0 0
Interest income 4 1 8 4
Dividend income - cost investments 29 22 87 69
Other income (expense), net (2) (2) (5) 1
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax 145 49 424 166
Income tax (provision) benefit (16) (1) (73) (56)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations 129 48 351 110
Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations 0 0 0 0
Gain (loss) on disposition of discontinued operations 0 0 0 0
Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations 0 0 0 0
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations 0 0 0 0
Net earnings (loss) 129 48 351 110
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests 1 0 3 0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation 130 48 354 110
Eliminations [Member]
        
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Net sales (320) (323) (889) (926)
Cost of sales 292 323 866 928
Gross profit (28) 0 (23) 2
Selling, general and administrative expenses 0 0 0 0
Amortization of intangible assets 0 0 0 0
Research and development expenses 0 0 0 0
Other (charges) gains, net 0 0 0 (4)
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net 0 0 0 0
Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net 0 0 0 0
Operating profit (loss) (28) 0 (23) (2)
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates (580) (396) (1,606) (1,062)
Interest expense 37 32 105 92
Refinancing expense 0 0 0 0
Interest income (37) (32) (105) (92)
Dividend income - cost investments 0 0 0 0
Other income (expense), net 0 0 0 0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax (608) (396) (1,629) (1,064)
Income tax (provision) benefit 8 0 6 0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations (600) (396) (1,623) (1,064)
Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations 0 0 0 0
Gain (loss) on disposition of discontinued operations 0 0 0 0
Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations 0 0 0 0
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations 0 0 0 0
Net earnings (loss) (600) (396) (1,623) (1,064)
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests 0 0 0 0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation $ (600) $ (396) $ (1,623) $ (1,064)