Debt (Schedule of Long-term Debt) (Details) € in Millions, $ in Millions					12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)		Jul. 15, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	[1]	Oct. 15, 2014 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Long-Term Debt
Subtotal		$ 2,938	$ 2,542		$ 2,938	$ 2,542
Unamortized debt issuance costs		(27)	(22)	[1]	(27)	(22)	[1]		$ (27)			$ (27)
Current installments of long-term debt		(27)	(56)		(27)	(56)
Total		2,890	2,468		2,890	2,468
Term C-2 Loan Facility [Member]
Long-Term Debt
Secured Debt	[2]	0	30		$ 0	30
Credit facility, expiration date					Oct. 15, 2016
Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2018 [Member]
Long-Term Debt
Maturity Date					Oct. 31, 2018
Term C-3 Loan Facility [Member]
Long-Term Debt
Secured Debt	[3]	0	878		$ 0	878
Senior Unsecured Term Loan Due 2021 [Member]
Long-Term Debt
Secured Debt	[4]							$ 500
Senior unsecured notes	[4]	$ 500	0		500	0
Maturity Date		Jul. 15, 2021
Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2019 [Member]
Long-Term Debt
Senior unsecured notes		$ 316	327		$ 316	327					€ 300
Maturity Date					Oct. 15, 2019
Interest Rate		3.25%			3.25%
Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2021 [Member]
Long-Term Debt
Senior unsecured notes		$ 400	400		$ 400	400
Maturity Date					Jun. 15, 2021
Interest Rate		5.875%			5.875%
Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2022 [Member]
Long-Term Debt
Senior unsecured notes		$ 500	500		$ 500	$ 500
Maturity Date						Nov. 15, 2022
Interest Rate		4.625%			4.625%
Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2023 [Member]
Long-Term Debt
Senior unsecured notes		$ 788	0		$ 788	$ 0
Maturity Date		Sep. 26, 2023
Interest Rate		1.125%			1.125%
Pollution Control and Industrial Revenue Bonds [Member]
Long-Term Debt
Pollution control and industrial revenue bonds due at various dates through 2030, interest rates ranging from 5.70% to 6.70%		$ 0	169		$ 0	169
Year of maturity, range end					Nov. 01, 2030
Refunding loan for pollution control and industrial revenue bonds [Member]
Long-Term Debt
Pollution control and industrial revenue bonds due at various dates through 2030, interest rates ranging from 5.70% to 6.70%		$ 170	0		$ 170	0
Year of maturity, range end		Dec. 31, 2030
Bank Loans Acquired from SOFTER [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate		1.60%			1.60%
Long-Term Debt
Pollution control and industrial revenue bonds due at various dates through 2030, interest rates ranging from 5.70% to 6.70%	[5]	$ 47	0		$ 47	0
Year of maturity, range end		Dec. 31, 2021
Obligations Under Capital Leases [Member]
Long-Term Debt
Year of maturity, range end					Mar. 31, 2054
Obligations under capital leases due at various dates through 2054		$ 217	238		$ 217	238
Long-term Debt [Member]
Long-Term Debt
Unamortized debt issuance costs		$ (21)	$ (18)		$ (21)	$ (18)
Minimum [Member] | Pollution Control and Industrial Revenue Bonds [Member]
Long-Term Debt
Interest Rate		5.70%			5.70%
Minimum [Member] | Refunding loan for pollution control and industrial revenue bonds [Member]
Long-Term Debt
Interest Rate		4.05%			4.05%
Maximum [Member] | Pollution Control and Industrial Revenue Bonds [Member]
Long-Term Debt
Interest Rate		6.70%			6.70%
Maximum [Member] | Refunding loan for pollution control and industrial revenue bonds [Member]
Long-Term Debt
Interest Rate		5.00%			5.00%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Term C-3 Loan Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate			2.25%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Senior Unsecured Term Loan Due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate					1.50%
European Interbank Offered Rate [Member] | Term C-2 Loan Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate			2.00%
European Interbank Offered Rate [Member] | Term C-3 Loan Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate			2.25%

[1] Includes $6 million, $4 million and $5 million as of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, related to the Company's revolving credit facility and accounts receivables securitization facility, which are included in noncurrent Other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

[2] The margin for borrowings under the Term C-2 loan facility was 2.0% above the Euro Interbank Offered Rate ("EURIBOR").

[3] The margin for borrowings under the Term C-3 loan facility was 2.25% above LIBOR (for US dollars) and 2.25% above EURIBOR (for Euros), as applicable.

[4] The margin for borrowings under the senior unsecured term loan due 2021 was 1.5% above LIBOR at current Celanese credit ratings.

[5] The weighted average interest rate was 1.6% as of December 31, 2016.