Consolidating Guarantor Financial Information (Schedule of Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	$ 117	$ 167	$ 510	$ 512
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation	28	(69)	4	18
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	(2)	5	(1)	14
Pension and postretirement benefits	10	4	25	12
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	36	(60)	28	44
Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	117	167	510	512
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation	28	(69)	4	18
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	(2)	5	(1)	14
Pension and postretirement benefits	10	4	25	12
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	36	(60)	28	44
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	153	107	538	556
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	153	107	538	556
Parent Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	117	167	510	512
Parent Guarantor [Member] | Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	117	167	510	512
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation	28	(69)	4	18
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	(2)	5	(1)	14
Pension and postretirement benefits	10	4	25	12
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	36	(60)	28	44
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	153	107	538	556
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	153	107	538	556
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	116	167	508	511
Issuer [Member] | Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	116	167	508	511
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation	28	(69)	4	18
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	(2)	5	(1)	14
Pension and postretirement benefits	10	4	25	12
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	36	(60)	28	44
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	152	107	536	555
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	152	107	536	555
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	136	157	501	392
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member] | Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	136	157	501	392
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation	(5)	13	1	3
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	0	0	0	0
Pension and postretirement benefits	9	4	22	12
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	4	17	23	15
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	140	174	524	407
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	140	174	524	407
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	30	95	172	331
Non-Guarantors [Member] | Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	30	95	172	331
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation	(1)	(84)	4	14
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	0	2	0	1
Pension and postretirement benefits	1	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	(82)	4	15
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	30	13	176	346
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	30	13	176	346
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	(282)	(419)	(1,181)	(1,234)
Eliminations [Member] | Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	(282)	(419)	(1,181)	(1,234)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation	(22)	140	(9)	(35)
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	2	(7)	1	(15)
Pension and postretirement benefits	(20)	(8)	(47)	(24)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(40)	125	(55)	(74)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(322)	(294)	(1,236)	(1,308)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	$ (322)	$ (294)	$ (1,236)	$ (1,308)