Consolidating Guarantor Financial Information (Schedule of Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	$ 133	$ 221	[1]	$ 275	$ 414	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0		0	0
Foreign currency translation	26	(50)		(5)	(24)
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	2	0		3	1
Pension and postretirement benefits	0	(2)	[1]	0	(6)	[1]
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	28	(52)	[1]	(2)	(29)	[1]
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	161	169	[1]	273	385	[1]
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0		0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	161	169	[1]	273	385	[1]
Parent Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	133	221	[1]	275	414	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0		0	0
Foreign currency translation	26	(50)		(5)	(24)
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	2	0		3	1
Pension and postretirement benefits	0	(2)	[1]	0	(6)	[1]
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	28	(52)	[1]	(2)	(29)	[1]
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	161	169		273	385
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0		0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	161	169		273	385
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	130	220	[1]	271	413	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0		0	0
Foreign currency translation	26	(50)		(5)	(24)
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	2	0		3	1
Pension and postretirement benefits	0	(2)	[1]	0	(6)	[1]
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	28	(52)	[1]	(2)	(29)	[1]
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	158	168		269	384
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0		0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	158	168		269	384
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	169	176	[1]	335	384	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0		0	0
Foreign currency translation	(2)	17		3	6
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	(1)	0		(1)	0
Pension and postretirement benefits	0	(3)	[1]	0	(6)	[1]
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(3)	14	[1]	2	0	[1]
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	166	190		337	384
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0		0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	166	190		337	384
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	36	122	[1]	62	144	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0		0	0
Foreign currency translation	(3)	11		2	5
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	0	0		0	0
Pension and postretirement benefits	0	0	[1]	0	(3)	[1]
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(3)	11	[1]	2	2	[1]
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	33	133		64	146
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0		0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	33	133		64	146
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	(335)	(518)	[1]	(668)	(941)	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0		0	0
Foreign currency translation	(21)	22		0	13
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	(1)	0		(2)	(1)
Pension and postretirement benefits	0	5	[1]	0	15	[1]
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(22)	27	[1]	(2)	27	[1]
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(357)	(491)		(670)	(914)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0		0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	$ (357)	$ (491)		$ (670)	$ (914)

[1] As Adjusted (Note 1)