Consolidating Guarantor Financial Information (Schedule of Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	$ 1,101	$ 372	$ 427
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	1	0	0
Foreign currency translation	20	5	(27)
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	6	7	27
Pension and postretirement benefits	58	(11)	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	85	1	0
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,186	373	427
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	1,186	373	427
Parent Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	1,101	372	427
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	1	0	0
Foreign currency translation	20	5	(27)
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	6	7	27
Pension and postretirement benefits	58	(11)	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	85	1	0
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,186	373	427
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	1,186	373	427
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	1,096	369	425
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	1	0	0
Foreign currency translation	20	5	(27)
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	6	7	27
Pension and postretirement benefits	58	(11)	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	85	1	0
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,181	370	425
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	1,181	370	425
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	731	463	333
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	1	0	0
Foreign currency translation	(10)	(12)	(6)
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	0	(1)	1
Pension and postretirement benefits	56	(2)	(2)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	47	(15)	(7)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	778	448	326
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	778	448	326
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	546	173	412
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation	(8)	1	6
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	0	3	1
Pension and postretirement benefits	2	(11)	2
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(6)	(7)	9
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	540	166	421
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	540	166	421
Consolidation Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	(2,373)	(1,005)	(1,170)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	(2)	0	0
Foreign currency translation	(2)	6	27
Gain (loss) on interest rate swaps	(6)	(9)	(29)
Pension and postretirement benefits	(116)	24	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(126)	21	(2)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(2,499)	(984)	(1,172)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	$ (2,499)	$ (984)	$ (1,172)