Consolidating Guarantor Financial Information (Schedule of Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	$ 234	$ 195
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0
Foreign currency translation	(156)	5
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	2	(3)
Pension and postretirement benefits	(3)	(12)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(157)	(10)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	77	185
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	2	1
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	79	186
Parent Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	236	196
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0
Foreign currency translation	(156)	5
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	2	(3)
Pension and postretirement benefits	(3)	(12)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(157)	(10)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	79	186
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	79	186
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	235	195
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0
Foreign currency translation	(156)	5
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	2	(3)
Pension and postretirement benefits	(3)	(12)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(157)	(10)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	78	185
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	78	185
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	240	193
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0
Foreign currency translation	(170)	16
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	5	0
Pension and postretirement benefits	(3)	(12)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(168)	4
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	72	197
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	72	197
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	117	74
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0
Foreign currency translation	(211)	(16)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	2	0
Pension and postretirement benefits	0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(209)	(16)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(92)	58
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	2	1
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	(90)	59
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	(594)	(463)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0
Foreign currency translation	537	(5)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	(9)	3
Pension and postretirement benefits	6	24
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	534	22
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(60)	(441)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	$ (60)	$ (441)