Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statement of Operations - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,486	$ 2,198	$ 5,024	$ 3,996
Cost of sales	(1,781)	(1,437)	(3,574)	(2,750)
Gross profit	705	761	1,450	1,246
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(197)	(161)	(371)	(298)
Amortization of intangible assets	(11)	(5)	(22)	(11)
Research and development expenses	(26)	(22)	(50)	(42)
Other (charges) gains, net	1	(3)	0	3
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net	(1)	(3)	(2)	0
Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net	12	0	9	(5)
Operating profit (loss)	483	567	1,014	893
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	60	37	116	66
Non-operating pension and other postretirement employee benefit (expense) income	25	38	49	76
Interest expense	(48)	(24)	(83)	(49)
Interest income	1	4	2	5
Dividend income - equity investments	36	37	73	79
Other income (expense), net	(3)	1	(1)	(1)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax	554	660	1,170	1,069
Income tax (provision) benefit	(112)	(116)	(224)	(201)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	442	544	946	868
Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations	(8)	(6)	(8)	(7)
Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations	2	2	2	2
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	(6)	(4)	(6)	(5)
Net earnings (loss)	436	540	940	863
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2)	(2)	(4)	(3)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	434	538	936	860
Amounts attributable to Celanese Corporation
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	440	542	942	865
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	(6)	(4)	(6)	(5)
Net earnings (loss)	$ 434	$ 538	$ 936	$ 860
Earnings (loss) per common share - basic
Continuing operations	$ 4.06	$ 4.83	$ 8.70	$ 7.66
Discontinued operations	(0.06)	(0.04)	(0.06)	(0.04)
Net earnings (loss) - basic	4.00	4.79	8.64	7.62
Earnings (loss) per common share - diluted
Continuing operations	4.03	4.81	8.63	7.62
Discontinued operations	(0.05)	(0.04)	(0.06)	(0.04)
Net earnings (loss) - diluted	$ 3.98	$ 4.77	$ 8.57	$ 7.58
Weighted average shares - basic	108,392,155	112,294,274	108,289,603	112,899,459
Weighted average shares - diluted	109,123,349	112,758,639	109,158,055	113,470,581