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, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	$ 172	$ 127	[1]	$ 447	$ 541	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	1	0		1	0
Foreign currency translation	42	28		37	4
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	1	(2)		4	(1)
Pension and postretirement benefits	0	0	[1]	0	(6)	[1]
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	44	26	[1]	42	(3)	[1]
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	216	153	[1]	489	538	[1]
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0		0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	216	153	[1]	489	538	[1]
Parent Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	172	127	[1]	447	541	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	1	0		1	0
Foreign currency translation	42	28		37	4
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	1	(2)		4	(1)
Pension and postretirement benefits	0	0	[1]	0	(6)	[1]
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	44	26	[1]	42	(3)	[1]
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	216	153		489	538
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0		0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	216	153		489	538
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	172	126	[1]	443	539	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	1	0		1	0
Foreign currency translation	42	28		37	4
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	1	(2)		4	(1)
Pension and postretirement benefits	0	0	[1]	0	(6)	[1]
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	44	26	[1]	42	(3)	[1]
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	216	152		485	536
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0		0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	216	152		485	536
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	176	145	[1]	511	529	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	1	0		1	0
Foreign currency translation	1	(5)		4	1
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	1	0		0	0
Pension and postretirement benefits	0	0	[1]	0	(6)	[1]
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	3	(5)	[1]	5	(5)	[1]
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	179	140		516	524
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0		0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	179	140		516	524
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	48	31	[1]	110	175	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0		0	0
Foreign currency translation	(4)	(1)		(2)	4
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	(4)	(1)	[1]	(2)	1	[1]
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	44	30		108	176
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0		0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	44	30		108	176
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	(396)	(302)	[1]	(1,064)	(1,243)	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	(2)	0		(2)	0
Foreign currency translation	(39)	(22)		(39)	(9)
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	(2)	2		(4)	1
Pension and postretirement benefits	0	0	[1]	0	15	[1]
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(43)	(20)	[1]	(45)	7	[1]
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(439)	(322)		(1,109)	(1,236)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0		0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	$ (439)	$ (322)		$ (1,109)	$ (1,236)

[1] As Adjusted (Note 1)