Consolidating Guarantor Financial Information (Schedule of Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	$ 184	$ 259
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	1
Foreign currency translation	28	64
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	(2)	0
Pension and postretirement benefits	5	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	31	65
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	215	324
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1)	(2)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	214	322
Parent Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	183	256
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	1
Foreign currency translation	28	64
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	(2)	0
Pension and postretirement benefits	5	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	31	65
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	214	321
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	214	321
Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	183	256
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	1
Foreign currency translation	28	64
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	(2)	0
Pension and postretirement benefits	5	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	31	65
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	214	321
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	214	321
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	130	242
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	0
Foreign currency translation	30	54
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	(2)	0
Pension and postretirement benefits	4	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	32	54
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	162	296
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	162	296
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	150	206
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	1
Foreign currency translation	39	82
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	(2)	0
Pension and postretirement benefits	6	1
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	43	84
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	193	290
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1)	(2)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	192	288
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)	(462)	(701)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	0	(2)
Foreign currency translation	(97)	(200)
Gain (loss) on cash flow hedges	6	0
Pension and postretirement benefits	(15)	(1)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(106)	(203)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(568)	(904)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	$ (568)	$ (904)