Revenue Recognition - Disaggregation of net sales (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 1,687	$ 1,851
Acetyl Chain [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	[1]	858	1,018
Engineered Materials [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		663	665
Acetate Tow [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		166	168
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	[2]	(31)	(33)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Acetyl Chain [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		31	33
North America [Member] | Acetyl Chain [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		286	290
North America [Member] | Engineered Materials [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		196	179
North America [Member] | Acetate Tow [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		34	35
Europe and Africa [Member] | Acetyl Chain [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		294	317
Europe and Africa [Member] | Engineered Materials [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		302	337
Europe and Africa [Member] | Acetate Tow [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		63	70
Asia Pacific [Member] | Acetyl Chain [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		256	378
Asia Pacific [Member] | Engineered Materials [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		148	132
Asia Pacific [Member] | Acetate Tow [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		60	51
South America [Member] | Acetyl Chain [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		22	33
South America [Member] | Engineered Materials [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		17	17
South America [Member] | Acetate Tow [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 9	$ 12

[1] Excludes intersegment sales of $31 million and $33 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

[2] Includes intersegment sales primarily related to the Acetyl Chain.