Consolidating Guarantor Financial Information (Schedule of Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	$ 285	$ 620	$ 1,101
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	1	1
Foreign currency translation	(188)	(148)	20
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	2	40	6
Pension and postretirement benefits	3	(54)	58
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(183)	(161)	85
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	102	459	1,186
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	19	4	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	121	463	1,186
Parent Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	304	624	1,101
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	1	1
Foreign currency translation	(188)	(148)	20
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	2	40	6
Pension and postretirement benefits	3	(54)	58
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(183)	(161)	85
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	121	463	1,186
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	121	463	1,186
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	302	622	1,096
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	1	1
Foreign currency translation	(188)	(148)	20
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	2	40	6
Pension and postretirement benefits	3	(54)	58
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(183)	(161)	85
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	119	461	1,181
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	119	461	1,181
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	260	590	731
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	1	1
Foreign currency translation	(181)	(31)	(10)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	5	(1)	0
Pension and postretirement benefits	3	(54)	56
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(173)	(85)	47
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	87	505	778
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	87	505	778
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	72	290	546
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	1	0
Foreign currency translation	(231)	(65)	(8)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	1	(7)	0
Pension and postretirement benefits	2	(5)	2
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(228)	(76)	(6)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(156)	214	540
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	19	4	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	(137)	218	540
Consolidation Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	(653)	(1,506)	(2,373)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	(3)	(2)
Foreign currency translation	600	244	(2)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	(8)	(32)	(6)
Pension and postretirement benefits	(8)	113	(116)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	584	322	(126)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(69)	(1,184)	(2,499)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	$ (69)	$ (1,184)	$ (2,499)