Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Share data	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,753	$ 1,517	$ 3,342	$ 2,905
Cost of sales	(1,343)	(1,214)	(2,581)	(2,384)
Gross profit	410	303	761	521
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(140)	(124)	(268)	(248)
Amortization of intangible assets	(17)	(15)	(33)	(30)
Research and development expenses	(25)	(17)	(48)	(35)
Other (charges) gains, net	(18)	(6)	(15)	(83)
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net	(1)	0	0	2
Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net	0	15	0	15
Operating profit (loss)	209	156	397	142
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	46	45	89	94
Interest expense	(57)	(49)	(112)	(98)
Refinancing expense	(3)	0	(3)	0
Interest income	0	1	1	2
Dividend income - cost investments	79	72	79	72
Other income (expense), net	6	(1)	9	5
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax	280	224	460	217
Income tax (provision) benefit	(75)	(61)	(117)	(41)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	205	163	343	176
Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations	(3)	(5)	3	(5)
Gain (loss) on disposition of discontinued operations	0	0	0	2
Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations	1	2	(1)	1
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	(2)	(3)	2	(2)
Net earnings (loss)	203	160	345	174
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	203	160	345	174
Cumulative preferred stock dividends	0	0	0	(3)
Net earnings (loss) available to common shareholders	203	160	345	171
Amounts attributable to Celanese Corporation
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	205	163	343	176
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	(2)	(3)	2	(2)
Net earnings (loss)	$ 203	$ 160	$ 345	$ 174
Earnings (loss) per common share - basic
Continuing operations	$ 1.31	$ 1.04	$ 2.20	$ 1.13
Discontinued operations	$ (0.01)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.01	$ (0.01)
Net earnings (loss) - basic	$ 1.30	$ 1.02	$ 2.21	$ 1.12
Earnings (loss) per common share - diluted
Continuing operations	$ 1.29	$ 1.03	$ 2.16	$ 1.11
Discontinued operations	$ (0.01)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.01	$ (0.01)
Net earnings (loss) - diluted	$ 1.28	$ 1.01	$ 2.17	$ 1.10
Weighted average shares - basic	156,280,721	156,326,226	156,124,358	153,315,950
Weighted average shares - diluted	159,186,077	158,405,119	158,927,250	158,674,073