Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statement of Operations - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,301	$ 2,266	$ 7,325	$ 6,262
Cost of sales	(1,755)	(1,551)	(5,329)	(4,301)
Gross profit	546	715	1,996	1,961
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(184)	(165)	(555)	(463)
Amortization of intangible assets	(10)	(6)	(32)	(17)
Research and development expenses	(25)	(21)	(75)	(63)
Other (charges) gains, net	(15)	0	(15)	3
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net	(2)	2	(4)	2
Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net	(2)	11	7	6
Operating profit (loss)	308	536	1,322	1,429
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	73	44	189	110
Non-operating pension and other postretirement employee benefit (expense) income	25	37	74	113
Interest expense	(154)	(21)	(237)	(70)
Refinancing expense	0	(9)	0	(9)
Interest income	34	2	36	7
Dividend income - equity investments	30	35	103	114
Other income (expense), net	5	(2)	4	(3)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax	321	622	1,491	1,691
Income tax (provision) benefit	(127)	(102)	(351)	(303)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	194	520	1,140	1,388
Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations	0	(17)	(8)	(24)
Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations	(1)	4	1	6
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	(1)	(13)	(7)	(18)
Net earnings (loss)	193	507	1,133	1,370
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2)	(1)	(6)	(4)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	191	506	1,127	1,366
Amounts attributable to Celanese Corporation
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	192	519	1,134	1,384
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	(1)	(13)	(7)	(18)
Net earnings (loss)	$ 191	$ 506	$ 1,127	$ 1,366
Earnings (loss) per common share - basic
Continuing operations - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.77	$ 4.70	$ 10.47	$ 12.35
Discontinued operations - basic (in dollars per share)	(0.01)	(0.12)	(0.07)	(0.16)
Net earnings (loss) - basic (in dollars per share)	1.76	4.58	10.40	12.19
Earnings (loss) per common share - diluted
Continuing operations - diluted (in dollars per share)	1.76	4.67	10.39	12.28
Discontinued operations - diluted (in dollars per share)	(0.01)	(0.11)	(0.07)	(0.16)
Net earnings (loss) - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.75	$ 4.56	$ 10.32	$ 12.12
Weighted average shares - basic (in shares)	108,428,982	110,532,051	108,336,574	112,101,651
Weighted average shares - diluted (in shares)	109,065,970	111,044,558	109,158,832	112,699,297