Consolidating Guarantor Financial Information (Schedule of Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	$ 605	$ 607	$ 377
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	(1)
Foreign currency translation	5	(27)	37
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	7	27	17
Pension and postretirement benefits	(244)	(180)	(63)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(232)	(180)	(10)
Comprehensive income (loss)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	605	607	377
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	(1)
Foreign currency translation	5	(27)	37
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	7	27	17
Pension and postretirement benefits	(244)	(180)	(63)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(232)	(180)	(10)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	373	427	367
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	373	427	367
Parent Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	605	607	377
Parent Guarantor [Member] | Comprehensive income (loss)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	605	607	377
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	(1)
Foreign currency translation	5	(27)	37
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	7	27	17
Pension and postretirement benefits	(244)	(180)	(63)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(232)	(180)	(10)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	373	427	367
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	373	427	367
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	602	605	407
Issuer [Member] | Comprehensive income (loss)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	602	605	407
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	(1)
Foreign currency translation	5	(27)	37
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	7	27	17
Pension and postretirement benefits	(244)	(180)	(63)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(232)	(180)	(10)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	370	425	397
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	370	425	397
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	623	484	359
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member] | Comprehensive income (loss)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	623	484	359
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	(1)
Foreign currency translation	(12)	(6)	37
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	(1)	1	0
Pension and postretirement benefits	(162)	(153)	(52)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(175)	(158)	(16)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	448	326	343
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	448	326	343
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	251	441	292
Non-Guarantors [Member] | Comprehensive income (loss)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	251	441	292
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation	1	6	(10)
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	3	1	(4)
Pension and postretirement benefits	(89)	(27)	(11)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(85)	(20)	(25)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	166	421	267
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	166	421	267
Consolidation Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	(1,476)	(1,530)	(1,058)
Consolidation Eliminations [Member] | Comprehensive income (loss)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	(1,476)	(1,530)	(1,058)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	2
Foreign currency translation	6	27	(64)
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	(9)	(29)	(13)
Pension and postretirement benefits	495	360	126
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	492	358	51
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(984)	(1,172)	(1,007)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	$ (984)	$ (1,172)	$ (1,007)