Revenue Recognition - Disaggregation of net sales (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2020		Jun. 30, 2019		Jun. 30, 2020		Jun. 30, 2019
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 1,193		$ 1,592		$ 2,653		$ 3,279
Acetyl Chain
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales	[1]	646		835		1,414		1,693
Engineered Materials
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		420		593		983		1,256
Acetate Tow
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		127		164		256		330
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		(16)	[2]	(30)	[2]	(47)	[3]	(61)	[3]
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Acetyl Chain
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		16		30		47		61
North America [Member] | Acetyl Chain
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		208		278		482		564
North America [Member] | Engineered Materials
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		111		180		273		376
North America [Member] | Acetate Tow
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		27		33		48		67
Europe and Africa [Member] | Acetyl Chain
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		236		282		502		576
Europe and Africa [Member] | Engineered Materials
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		183		269		443		571
Europe and Africa [Member] | Acetate Tow
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		68		67		139		130
Asia Pacific [Member] | Acetyl Chain
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		190		252		397		508
Asia Pacific [Member] | Engineered Materials
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		117		126		240		274
Asia Pacific [Member] | Acetate Tow
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		29		56		61		116
South America [Member] | Acetyl Chain
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		12		23		33		45
South America [Member] | Engineered Materials
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		9		18		27		35
South America [Member] | Acetate Tow
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Net sales		$ 3		$ 8		$ 8		$ 17

[1] Excludes intersegment sales of $16 million and $30 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Excludes intersegment sales of $47 million and $61 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

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

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