Consolidating Guarantor Financial Information (Schedule of Consolidating Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Sep. 30, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Current Assets        
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,510 $ 984 $ 1,100 $ 959
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates 1,016 867    
Non-trade receivables, net 200 343    
Inventories, net 771 804    
Deferred income taxes 111 115    
Marketable securities, at fair value 36 41    
Other assets 43 28    
Total current assets 3,687 3,182    
Investments in affiliates 857 841    
Property, plant and equipment 3,618 3,425    
Deferred income taxes 296 289    
Other assets 365 341    
Goodwill 756 798    
Intangible assets, net 131 142    
Total assets 9,710 9,018    
Current Liabilities        
Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt - third party and affiliates 765 177    
Trade payables - third party and affiliates 816 799    
Other liabilities 483 541    
Deferred income taxes 10 10    
Income taxes payable 115 18    
Total current liabilities 2,189 1,545    
Noncurrent Liabilities        
Long-term debt 2,639 2,887    
Deferred income taxes 225 225    
Uncertain tax positions 150 200    
Benefit obligations 1,077 1,175    
Other liabilities 295 287    
Total noncurrent liabilities 4,386 4,774    
Total Celanese Corporation stockholders' equity 2,944 2,699    
Noncontrolling interests 191 0    
Total equity 3,135 2,699    
Total liabilities and equity 9,710 9,018    
Parent Guarantor [Member]
        
Current Assets        
Cash and cash equivalents 0 0 0 10
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates 0 0    
Non-trade receivables, net 35 33    
Inventories, net 0 0    
Deferred income taxes 0 0    
Marketable securities, at fair value 0 0    
Other assets 0 0    
Total current assets 35 33    
Investments in affiliates 2,910 2,667    
Property, plant and equipment 0 0    
Deferred income taxes 0 0    
Other assets 0 0    
Goodwill 0 0    
Intangible assets, net 0 0    
Total assets 2,945 2,700    
Current Liabilities        
Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt - third party and affiliates 0 0    
Trade payables - third party and affiliates 0 0    
Other liabilities 1 1    
Deferred income taxes 0 0    
Income taxes payable 0 0    
Total current liabilities 1 1    
Noncurrent Liabilities        
Long-term debt 0 0    
Deferred income taxes 0 0    
Uncertain tax positions 0 0    
Benefit obligations 0 0    
Other liabilities 0 0    
Total noncurrent liabilities 0 0    
Total Celanese Corporation stockholders' equity 2,944 2,699    
Noncontrolling interests 0 0    
Total equity 2,944 2,699    
Total liabilities and equity 2,945 2,700    
Issuer [Member]
        
Current Assets        
Cash and cash equivalents 0 0 0 0
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates 0 0    
Non-trade receivables, net 1,113 482    
Inventories, net 0 0    
Deferred income taxes 0 0    
Marketable securities, at fair value 0 0    
Other assets 0 5    
Total current assets 1,113 487    
Investments in affiliates 4,664 4,458    
Property, plant and equipment 0 0    
Deferred income taxes 0 0    
Other assets 1,915 1,965    
Goodwill 0 0    
Intangible assets, net 0 0    
Total assets 7,692 6,910    
Current Liabilities        
Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt - third party and affiliates 2,429 1,713    
Trade payables - third party and affiliates 2 0    
Other liabilities 62 28    
Deferred income taxes 17 17    
Income taxes payable 0 0    
Total current liabilities 2,510 1,758    
Noncurrent Liabilities        
Long-term debt 2,217 2,468    
Deferred income taxes 9 8    
Uncertain tax positions 6 6    
Benefit obligations 0 0    
Other liabilities 40 3    
Total noncurrent liabilities 2,272 2,485    
Total Celanese Corporation stockholders' equity 2,910 2,667    
Noncontrolling interests 0 0    
Total equity 2,910 2,667    
Total liabilities and equity 7,692 6,910    
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
        
Current Assets        
Cash and cash equivalents 824 284 398 275
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates 147 131    
Non-trade receivables, net 2,215 2,166    
Inventories, net 251 243    
Deferred income taxes 75 74    
Marketable securities, at fair value 36 41    
Other assets 19 15    
Total current assets 3,567 2,954    
Investments in affiliates 1,987 1,677    
Property, plant and equipment 998 969    
Deferred income taxes 270 248    
Other assets 145 144    
Goodwill 305 305    
Intangible assets, net 68 64    
Total assets 7,340 6,361    
Current Liabilities        
Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt - third party and affiliates 827 122    
Trade payables - third party and affiliates 399 312    
Other liabilities 324 441    
Deferred income taxes 0 0    
Income taxes payable 552 460    
Total current liabilities 2,102 1,335    
Noncurrent Liabilities        
Long-term debt 830 825    
Deferred income taxes 11 0    
Uncertain tax positions 8 16    
Benefit obligations 870 943    
Other liabilities 115 91    
Total noncurrent liabilities 1,834 1,875    
Total Celanese Corporation stockholders' equity 3,404 3,151    
Noncontrolling interests 0 0    
Total equity 3,404 3,151    
Total liabilities and equity 7,340 6,361    
Non-Guarantors [Member]
        
Current Assets        
Cash and cash equivalents 686 700 702 674
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates 1,043 877    
Non-trade receivables, net 490 586    
Inventories, net 604 622    
Deferred income taxes 53 58    
Marketable securities, at fair value 0 0    
Other assets 43 24    
Total current assets 2,919 2,867    
Investments in affiliates 592 594    
Property, plant and equipment 2,620 2,456    
Deferred income taxes 27 49    
Other assets 314 285    
Goodwill 451 493    
Intangible assets, net 63 78    
Total assets 6,986 6,822    
Current Liabilities        
Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt - third party and affiliates 356 373    
Trade payables - third party and affiliates 589 628    
Other liabilities 445 513    
Deferred income taxes 10 10    
Income taxes payable 52 32    
Total current liabilities 1,452 1,556    
Noncurrent Liabilities        
Long-term debt 1,539 1,646    
Deferred income taxes 206 225    
Uncertain tax positions 136 178    
Benefit obligations 207 232    
Other liabilities 209 202    
Total noncurrent liabilities 2,297 2,483    
Total Celanese Corporation stockholders' equity 3,046 2,783    
Noncontrolling interests 191 0    
Total equity 3,237 2,783    
Total liabilities and equity 6,986 6,822    
Eliminations [Member]
        
Current Assets        
Cash and cash equivalents 0 0 0 0
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates (174) (141)    
Non-trade receivables, net (3,653) (2,924)    
Inventories, net (84) (61)    
Deferred income taxes (17) (17)    
Marketable securities, at fair value 0 0    
Other assets (19) (16)    
Total current assets (3,947) (3,159)    
Investments in affiliates (9,296) (8,555)    
Property, plant and equipment 0 0    
Deferred income taxes (1) (8)    
Other assets (2,009) (2,053)    
Goodwill 0 0    
Intangible assets, net 0 0    
Total assets (15,253) (13,775)    
Current Liabilities        
Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt - third party and affiliates (2,847) (2,031)    
Trade payables - third party and affiliates (174) (141)    
Other liabilities (349) (442)    
Deferred income taxes (17) (17)    
Income taxes payable (489) (474)    
Total current liabilities (3,876) (3,105)    
Noncurrent Liabilities        
Long-term debt (1,947) (2,052)    
Deferred income taxes (1) (8)    
Uncertain tax positions 0 0    
Benefit obligations 0 0    
Other liabilities (69) (9)    
Total noncurrent liabilities (2,017) (2,069)    
Total Celanese Corporation stockholders' equity (9,360) (8,601)    
Noncontrolling interests 0 0    
Total equity (9,360) (8,601)    
Total liabilities and equity $ (15,253) $ (13,775)