Consolidating Guarantor Financial Information (Schedule of Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	$ 906	$ 285	$ 620
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	1
Foreign currency translation	(11)	(188)	(148)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	5	2	40
Pension and postretirement benefits	(4)	3	(54)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(10)	(183)	(161)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	896	102	459
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6)	19	4
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	890	121	463
Parent Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	900	304	624
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	1
Foreign currency translation	(11)	(188)	(148)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	5	2	40
Pension and postretirement benefits	(4)	3	(54)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(10)	(183)	(161)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	890	121	463
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	890	121	463
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	898	302	622
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	1
Foreign currency translation	(11)	(188)	(148)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	5	2	40
Pension and postretirement benefits	(4)	3	(54)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(10)	(183)	(161)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	888	119	461
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	888	119	461
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	855	260	590
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	1
Foreign currency translation	(65)	(181)	(31)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	5	5	(1)
Pension and postretirement benefits	(4)	3	(54)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(64)	(173)	(85)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	791	87	505
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	791	87	505
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	736	72	290
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	1
Foreign currency translation	(73)	(231)	(65)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	5	1	(7)
Pension and postretirement benefits	(2)	2	(5)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(70)	(228)	(76)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	666	(156)	214
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6)	19	4
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	660	(137)	218
Consolidation Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	(2,483)	(653)	(1,506)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0	(3)
Foreign currency translation	149	600	244
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	(15)	(8)	(32)
Pension and postretirement benefits	10	(8)	113
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	144	584	322
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(2,339)	(69)	(1,184)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	$ (2,339)	$ (69)	$ (1,184)