Consolidating Guarantor Financial Information (Schedule of Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	$ 142	$ 193	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0
Foreign currency translation	(31)	26
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	1	1
Pension and postretirement benefits	0	(4)	[1]
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(30)	23	[1]
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	112	216	[1]
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	112	216	[1]
Parent Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	142	193	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0
Foreign currency translation	(31)	26
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	1	1
Pension and postretirement benefits	0	(4)	[1]
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(30)	23	[1]
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	112	216
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	112	216
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	141	193	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0
Foreign currency translation	(31)	26
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	1	1
Pension and postretirement benefits	0	(4)	[1]
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(30)	23	[1]
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	111	216
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	111	216
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	166	208	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0
Foreign currency translation	5	(11)
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	0	0
Pension and postretirement benefits	0	(3)	[1]
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	5	(14)	[1]
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	171	194
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	171	194
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	26	22	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0
Foreign currency translation	5	(6)
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	0	0
Pension and postretirement benefits	0	(3)	[1]
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	5	(9)	[1]
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	31	13
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	31	13
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	(333)	(423)	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0
Foreign currency translation	21	(9)
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	(1)	(1)
Pension and postretirement benefits	0	10	[1]
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	20	0	[1]
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(313)	(423)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	$ (313)	$ (423)

[1] As Adjusted (Note 1)