Revenue Recognition - Disaggregation of net sales (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 1,771	$ 1,566	$ 5,466	$ 4,547
Engineered Materials [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		642		1,971
Acetate Tow [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		158		488
Industrial Specialties [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	[1]	273		832
Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	[2]	698		2,175
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		(137)	(112)	(395)	(320)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Industrial Specialties [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		0	1	3	3
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		137	$ 111	392	$ 317
North America [Member] | Engineered Materials [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		197		567
North America [Member] | Acetate Tow [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		30		98
North America [Member] | Industrial Specialties [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		93		274
North America [Member] | Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		205		599
Europe and Africa [Member] | Engineered Materials [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		277		945
Europe and Africa [Member] | Acetate Tow [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		78		196
Europe and Africa [Member] | Industrial Specialties [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		126		400
Europe and Africa [Member] | Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		176		558
Asia Pacific [Member] | Engineered Materials [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		145		403
Asia Pacific [Member] | Acetate Tow [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		44		163
Asia Pacific [Member] | Industrial Specialties [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		49		145
Asia Pacific [Member] | Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		292		936
South America [Member] | Engineered Materials [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		23		56
South America [Member] | Acetate Tow [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		6		31
South America [Member] | Industrial Specialties [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		5		13
South America [Member] | Acetyl Intermediates [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 25		$ 82

[1] Excludes intersegment sales of $0 million and $3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.

[2] Excludes intersegment sales of $137 million and $392 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.