GUARANTOR CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL DATA (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Guarantor condensed consolidating financial data
Net sales	$ 606	$ 618
Cost of goods sold	480	455
Selling, general and administrative	70	79
Depreciation and amortization	31	29
Research and development	9	12
Facility closures, severance and related costs	14
Changes in estimates related to expected allowable claims		2
Equity loss	2	1
Operating income		40
Interest expense	(16)	(14)
Other income, net	3	(3)
Reorganization items, net		(2)
(Loss) earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	(13)	21
Income tax expense	(8)	1
(Loss) earnings from continuing operations	(21)	22
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(2)
Net (loss) earnings attributable to Chemtura	(23)	22
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
Net loss	(23)	22
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(23)	22
Unrecognized pension and other post-retirement benefit costs	(1)	2
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Chemtura	(47)	46
Eliminations
Guarantor condensed consolidating financial data
Net sales	(417)	(429)
Cost of goods sold	(417)	(429)
Equity in net loss of subsidiaries	25	(5)
(Loss) earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	25	(5)
(Loss) earnings from continuing operations	25	(5)
Net (loss) earnings attributable to Chemtura	25	(5)
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
Net loss	25	(5)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Chemtura	25	(5)
Parent Company
Guarantor condensed consolidating financial data
Net sales	365	367
Cost of goods sold	297	288
Selling, general and administrative	31	29
Depreciation and amortization	7	7
Research and development	3	5
Facility closures, severance and related costs	6
Changes in estimates related to expected allowable claims		2
Operating income	21	36
Interest expense	(17)	(17)
Other income, net	1	(3)
Reorganization items, net		(2)
Equity in net loss of subsidiaries	(25)	5
(Loss) earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	(20)	19
Income tax expense	(1)
(Loss) earnings from continuing operations	(21)	19
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(2)	3
Net (loss) earnings attributable to Chemtura	(23)	22
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
Net loss	(23)	22
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
Foreign currency translation adjustments	14	(13)
Unrecognized pension and other post-retirement benefit costs	1	2
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Chemtura	(8)	11
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Guarantor condensed consolidating financial data
Net sales	159	164
Cost of goods sold	137	144
Selling, general and administrative	11	11
Depreciation and amortization	13	12
Research and development	2	2
Operating income	(4)	(5)
Interest expense		1
(Loss) earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	(4)	(4)
(Loss) earnings from continuing operations	(4)	(4)
Net (loss) earnings attributable to Chemtura	(4)	(4)
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
Net loss	(4)	(4)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(2)	2
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Chemtura	(6)	(2)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Guarantor condensed consolidating financial data
Net sales	499	516
Cost of goods sold	463	452
Selling, general and administrative	28	39
Depreciation and amortization	11	10
Research and development	4	5
Facility closures, severance and related costs	8
Equity loss	2	1
Operating income	(17)	9
Interest expense	1	2
Other income, net	2
(Loss) earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	(14)	11
Income tax expense	(7)	1
(Loss) earnings from continuing operations	(21)	12
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		(3)
Net (loss) earnings attributable to Chemtura	(21)	9
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
Net loss	(21)	9
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(35)	33
Unrecognized pension and other post-retirement benefit costs	(2)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Chemtura	$ (58)	$ 42