Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total		Series A Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Balance as of the beginning of the period, shares at Dec. 31, 2013			156,939,828	8,928,137
Balance as of the beginning of the period at Dec. 31, 2013								$ 0
Balance as of the beginning of the year at Dec. 31, 2013			$ 0	$ (361)	$ 53	$ 3,011	$ (4)
Stock option exercises, net of tax	$ 7		$ 0		7
Stock option exercises, shares			202,121
Purchases of treasury stock, shares			(4,338,488)
Purchases of treasury stock			$ 0
Stock awards, shares			99,249
Stock awards			$ 0
Purchases of treasury stock, shares	4,338,488			4,338,488
Purchases of treasury stock, including related fees	$ (250)			$ (250)
Stock-based compensation, net of tax					43
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	624					624
Series A common stock dividends						(144)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(161)						(161)
Balance as of the end of the year at Dec. 31, 2014	2,818		$ 0	$ (611)	103	3,491	(165)
Balance as of the end of the period, shares at Dec. 31, 2014			152,902,710	13,266,625
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4)							(4)
(Distributions to) contributions from noncontrolling interests								264
Balance as of the end of the period at Dec. 31, 2014								260
Total equity at Dec. 31, 2014	3,078
Stock option exercises, net of tax	$ 4		$ 0		5
Stock option exercises, shares			94,147
Purchases of treasury stock, shares			(6,649,865)
Purchases of treasury stock			$ 0
Stock awards, shares			435,305
Stock awards			$ 0
Purchases of treasury stock, shares	6,640,601	[1]		6,649,865
Purchases of treasury stock, including related fees	$ (420)			$ (420)
Stock-based compensation, net of tax					28
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	304					304
Series A common stock dividends						(174)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(183)						(183)
Balance as of the end of the year at Dec. 31, 2015	2,378		$ 0	$ (1,031)	136	3,621	(348)
Balance as of the end of the period, shares at Dec. 31, 2015			146,782,297	19,916,490
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(19)							(19)
(Distributions to) contributions from noncontrolling interests								210
Balance as of the end of the period at Dec. 31, 2015	451							451
Total equity at Dec. 31, 2015	2,829
Stock option exercises, net of tax	$ 7		$ 0		13
Stock option exercises, shares	195,000		194,872
Purchases of treasury stock, shares			(7,034,420)
Purchases of treasury stock			$ 0
Stock awards, shares			717,698
Stock awards			$ 0
Purchases of treasury stock, shares	7,034,420			7,034,420
Purchases of treasury stock, including related fees	$ (500)			$ (500)
Stock-based compensation, net of tax					8
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	900					900
Series A common stock dividends						(201)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(10)						(10)
Balance as of the end of the year at Dec. 31, 2016	2,588		$ 0	$ (1,531)	$ 157	$ 4,320	$ (358)
Balance as of the end of the period, shares at Dec. 31, 2016			140,660,447	26,950,910
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	6							6
(Distributions to) contributions from noncontrolling interests								(24)
Balance as of the end of the period at Dec. 31, 2016	433							$ 433
Total equity at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 3,021

[1] The year ended December 31, 2015 excludes 9,264 shares withheld from an executive officer to cover statutory minimum withholding requirements for personal income taxes related to the vesting of restricted stock. Restricted stock awards are considered outstanding at the time of issuance. Accordingly, the shares withheld are treated as treasury shares.