Document And Entity Information [Abstract]. Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Document Type Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]. Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract] Net sales Sales Revenue, Net, Total Cost of Goods and Services Sold Cost of sales Cost of sales Cost of sales Gross profit Gross profit Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, General and Administrative Expense, Total Amortization of intangible assets (primarily customer relationships) Amortization of intangible assets (primarily customer-related intangible assets) Amortization of Intangible Assets, Total Research and development expenses Research and development expenses Research and Development Expense, Total Other (charges) gains, net Other (charges) gains, net Restructuring, Settlement and Impairment Provisions, Total Foreign exchange gain (loss), net Foreign exchange gain (loss), net Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), before Tax, Total Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net Operating profit Operating profit (loss) Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments, Total Interest expense Interest expense Interest Expense, Total Interest income Dividend income - cost investments Other income (expense), net Other income (expense), net Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax. Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income tax (provision) benefit Income tax (provision) benefit Income tax (provision) benefit Earnings (loss) from continuing operations (IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest) Earnings (loss) from continuing operations Earnings (loss) from continuing operations Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation During Phase-out Period, before Income Tax, Total Gain (loss) on disposition of discontinued operations Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) from Disposal of Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax, Total Discontinued Operation, Tax Effect of Discontinued Operation Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations Income tax (provision) benefit, discontinued operations Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations Net earnings (loss) Net earnings (loss) Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests Net (earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interests Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation Net earnings (loss) Net earnings (loss) Preferred Stock Dividends Cumulative preferred stock dividends Cumulative preferred stock dividends Cumulative preferred stock dividends Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic Net earnings (loss) available to common shareholders Amounts attributable to Celanese Corporation Earnings (loss) from continuing operations (IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations) Earnings (loss) from continuing operations Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent, Total Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations Earnings (loss) per common share - basic Continuing operations (IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare) Continuing operations Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Outstanding Share, Total Discontinued operations (IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare) Discontinued operations Discontinued operations Earnings Per Share, Basic Net earnings (loss) - basic Earnings (loss) per common share - diluted Continuing operations (IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare) Continuing operations Discontinued operations (IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare) Discontinued operations Discontinued operations Earnings Per Share, Diluted Net earnings (loss) - diluted Weighted average shares - basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic, Total Weighted average shares - diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted, Total Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract]. Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Statement [Table] Class of Stock [Axis] Class of Stock [Domain] Statement [Line Items] Assets (AssetsAbstract) Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Trade receivables - third party and affiliates (net of allowance for doubtful accounts - 2010: $18; 2009: $18) Accounts Receivable, Net, Current, Total Non-trade receivables Nontrade Receivables, Current, Total Inventories (InventoryNet) Inventories Inventory, Net, Total Deferred income taxes (DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent) Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Ending Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Beginning Balance Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Total Marketable securities, at fair value (MarketableSecuritiesCurrent) Marketable securities, at fair value Marketable Securities, Current, Total Assets held for sale Assets Held-for-sale, Current, Total Other assets (OtherAssetsCurrent) Other assets Other assets Assets, Current Total current assets Investments in affiliates Investments in affiliates Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation - 2010: $1,122; 2009: $1,130) Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation - 2009: $1,012; 2008: $1,053) Deferred income taxes (DeferredTaxAssetsNetNoncurrent) Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent, Total Marketable securities, at fair value (MarketableSecuritiesNoncurrent) Marketable securities, at fair value Marketable securities, at fair value, noncurrent Other assets (OtherAssetsNoncurrent) Other Assets, Noncurrent, Total Other assets Goodwill Goodwill, Ending Balance Goodwill, Beginning Balance Intangible assets, net Intangible assets, net Assets (Assets) Assets Total assets Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current liabilities Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt - third party and affiliates Debt, Current, Total Trade payables - third party and affiliates (AccountsPayableCurrent) Trade payables - third party and affiliates Accounts Payable, Current, Total Other liabilities (OtherLiabilitiesCurrent) Other liabilities Other Liabilities, Current, Total Deferred income taxes (DeferredTaxLiabilitiesCurrent) Deferred income taxes Income taxes payable Income taxes payable Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Long-term debt Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities, Total Deferred income taxes (DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent) Deferred income taxes Uncertain tax positions Benefit obligations Other liabilities (OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent) Other liabilities Other Liabilities, Noncurrent, Total Commitments and contingencies Shareholders' equity Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized (2010 and 2009: 0 and 9,600,000 issued and outstanding, respectively) Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Total Common stock (CommonStockValue) Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common stock Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total Treasury stock (TreasuryStockValue) Treasury stock, at cost (2010 and 2009: 20,601,686 shares) Treasury Stock, Value, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Value, Beginning Balance Treasury stock Additional paid-in capital (AdditionalPaidInCapital) Additional Paid in Capital, Ending Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Beginning Balance Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital, Total Retained earnings (RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit) Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Total Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net (AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net Total Celanese Corporation shareholders' equity (StockholdersEquity) Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning Balance Total Celanese Corporation shareholders' equity Total Celanese Corporation shareholders' equity Noncontrolling interests (MinorityInterest) Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning Balance Noncontrolling interests Noncontrolling interests Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Balance as of the end of the period Balance as of the beginning of the period Total shareholders' equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Total liabilities and shareholders' equity Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) [Abstract]. Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) [Abstract] Allowance for doubtful accounts - trade receivables Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Ending Balance Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Beginning Balance Accumulated depreciation Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Ending Balance Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Beginning Balance Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Preferred stock, par value Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred stock, shares issued Preferred Stock, Shares Issued, Total Preferred stock, shares, outstanding Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Ending Balance Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Beginning Balance Common stock, par value Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Issued, Total Common stock, shares outstanding Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Ending Balance Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Beginning Balance Treasury stock, shares Treasury Stock, Shares, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Shares, Beginning Balance Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]. Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract] Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Preferred stock Common stock Common stock Treasury stock Treasury stock Additional paid-in capital Additional paid-in capital Retained earnings Retained earnings Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net (AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember) Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net Total Celanese Corporation shareholders' equity Total Celanese Corporation shareholders' equity Noncontrolling interests (NoncontrollingInterestMember) Noncontrolling interests Comprehensive income (loss) Comprehensive income (loss) Shares, Issued Balance as of the end of the period, shares outstanding Balance as of the beginning of the period, shares outstanding Stock-based compensation, net of tax Stock option exercises, shares outstanding Stock option exercises (StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised) Stock option exercises, net of tax Conversion of preferred stock, shares outstanding Conversion of preferred stock Redemption of preferred stock, shares outstanding Stock Redeemed or Called During Period, Value Redemption of preferred stock Purchases of treasury stock, shares outstanding Purchases of treasury stock, including related fees Purchases of treasury stock, including related fees Stock awards, shares outstanding Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Net of Forfeitures, Total Stock awards Stock Issued During Period, Value, Restricted Stock Award, Net of Forfeitures, Total Series A common stock dividends Dividends, Common Stock, Total Preferred stock dividends Dividends, Preferred Stock, Total Increase (decrease) in shareholders' equity Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Period Increase (Decrease) Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Period Increase (Decrease), Total Stockholders' Equity, Period Increase (Decrease) Stockholders' Equity, Period Increase (Decrease), Total Comprehensive income (loss) (ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAbstract) Comprehensive income (loss) Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax Unrealized gain (loss) on securities Foreign currency translation Foreign currency translation Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps Pension and postretirement benefits Other Comprehensive Income, Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment, Net of Tax, Total Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Operating activities Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities Other charges (gains), net of amounts used Restructuring Costs and Asset Impairment Charges, Total Depreciation, amortization and accretion Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Total Deferred income taxes, net Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment (Gain) loss on disposition of businesses and assets, net Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment, Total Other, net (AdjustmentsNoncashItemsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesOther) Other, net Operating cash provided by (used in) discontinued operations Value-added tax on deferred proceeds from Ticona Kelsterbach plant relocation. Value-added tax on deferred proceeds from Ticona Kelsterbach plant relocation Changes in operating assets and liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Receivables Trade receivables - third party and affiliates, net Increase (Decrease) in Receivables, Total Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Inventories, Total Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Other assets Trade payables - third party and affiliates (IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable) Trade payables - third party and affiliates Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable, Total Other liabilities Other liabilities Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities Investing activities Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Capital expenditures on property, plant and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Proceeds from sale of businesses and assets, net Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets, Total Deferred proceeds on Ticona Kelsterbach plant relocation. Deferred proceeds on Ticona Kelsterbach plant relocation Capital expenditures related to Ticona Kelsterbach plant relocation. Capital expenditures related to Ticona Kelsterbach plant relocation Capital expenditures related to Ticona Kelsterbach plant relocation Proceeds from sale of marketable securities Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Marketable Securities, Total Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities Other, net Other, net Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities Financing activities Short-term borrowings (repayments), net Proceeds from (Repayments of) Short-term Debt, Total Repayments of Long-term Debt Repayments of long-term debt Repayments of Long-term Debt, Total Stock option exercises (ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised) Stock option exercises Payments of Dividends, Common Stock Series A common stock dividends Payments of Dividends, Preferred Stock and Preference Stock Preferred stock dividends Preferred stock dividends Payments of Dividends, Preferred Stock and Preference Stock Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities Exchange rate effects on cash and cash equivalents Exchange rate effects on cash and cash equivalents Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Description of the Company and Basis of Presentation [Abstract]. Description of the Company and Basis of Presentation [Abstract] Description of the Company and Basis of Presentation Description of the Company and Basis of Presentation Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]. Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract] Recent Accounting Pronouncements Acquisitions, Ventures, Divestitures, Asset Sales and Plant Closures [Abstract]. Acquisitions, Dispositions and Plant Closures [Abstract] Acquisitions, Ventures, Divestitures, Asset Sales and Plant Closures [Text Block]. Acquisitions, Ventures, Divestitures, Asset Sales and Plant Closures [Text Block] Acquisitions, Dispositions and Plant Closures Marketable Securities, at Fair Value [Abstract]. Marketable Securities, at Fair Value [Abstract] Marketable Securities, at Fair Value Inventories [Abstract]. Inventories [Abstract] Inventories (InventoryDisclosureTextBlock) Inventories Goodwill [Abstract]. Goodwill [Abstract]