Effects of Change in Accounting Method for Current and Prior Periods (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Manufacturing cost of sales																	$ 1,283.1		$ 1,202.9		$ 1,028.0
Selling and technical services																	146.6		153.3		132.6
Research and process development																	49.0		54.0		47.5
Administrative and general																	126.5		140.0		100.1
Earnings from operations																	309.4		132.2		107.8
Other nonoperating income (expense)																	(7.4)		1.5		(3.9)
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes																	244.0		103.2		67.8
Income tax provision																	72.3		27.5		10.3
Earnings from continuing operations																	171.7		75.7		57.5
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest																	2.2		101.3		131.5
Net earnings																	173.9		177.0		189.0
Net earnings attributable to Cytec Industries Inc.	59.4		43.8		34.6		35.6		26.8		58.4		40.6		49.0		173.5		174.9		185.9
Comprehensive income																	113.7		182.8		161.1
Comprehensive income attributable to Cytec Industries Inc.																	113.5		181.2		157.9
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Continuing operations																	$ 4.36		$ 1.64		$ 1.19
Discontinued operations (net of noncontrolling interests)																	$ 0.04		$ 2.16		$ 2.65
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.66	[1]	$ 1.21	[1]	$ 0.85	[1]	$ 0.79	[1]	$ 0.59	[1]	$ 1.26	[1]	$ 0.88	[1]	$ 1.06	[1]	$ 4.40	[1]	$ 3.80	[1]	$ 3.84
Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract]
Continuing operations																	$ 4.27		$ 1.62		$ 1.17
Discontinued operations (net of noncontrolling interests)																	$ 0.04		$ 2.12		$ 2.62
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.62	[1]	$ 1.19	[1]	$ 0.83	[1]	$ 0.78	[1]	$ 0.58	[1]	$ 1.24	[1]	$ 0.86	[1]	$ 1.06	[1]	$ 4.31	[1]	$ 3.74	[1]	$ 3.79
Historical Method [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Manufacturing cost of sales																	1,329.3		1,181.5		992.2
Selling and technical services																	155.2		147.8		127.2
Research and process development																	53.3		52.9		45.0
Administrative and general																	132.9		136.6		96.1
Earnings from operations																	243.9		163.6		155.5
Other nonoperating income (expense)																	(8.7)		(1.7)		(5.1)
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes																	177.2		131.4		114.3
Income tax provision																	46.7		37.3		28.3
Earnings from continuing operations																	130.5		94.1		86.0
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest																	(2.1)		96.0		124.9
Net earnings																	128.4		190.1		210.9
Net earnings attributable to Cytec Industries Inc.																	128.0		188.0		207.8
Comprehensive income																	119.5		191.0		158.9
Comprehensive income attributable to Cytec Industries Inc.																	119.3		189.4		155.7
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Continuing operations																	$ 3.31		$ 2.04		$ 1.78
Discontinued operations (net of noncontrolling interests)																	$ (0.06)		$ 2.04		$ 2.51
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)																	$ 3.25		$ 4.08		$ 4.29
Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract]
Continuing operations																	$ 3.25		$ 2.01		$ 1.75
Discontinued operations (net of noncontrolling interests)																	$ (0.06)		$ 2.01		$ 2.49
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)																	$ 3.19		$ 4.02		$ 4.24
Effect Of Change [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Manufacturing cost of sales																	(46.2)		21.4		35.8
Selling and technical services																	(8.6)		5.5		5.4
Research and process development																	(4.3)		1.1		2.5
Administrative and general																	(6.4)		3.4		4.0
Earnings from operations																	65.5		(31.4)		(47.7)
Other nonoperating income (expense)																	1.3		3.2		1.2
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes																	66.8		(28.2)		(46.5)
Income tax provision																	25.6		(9.8)		(18.0)
Earnings from continuing operations																	41.2		(18.4)		(28.5)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest																	4.3		5.3		6.6
Net earnings																	45.5		(13.1)		(21.9)
Net earnings attributable to Cytec Industries Inc.																	45.5		(13.1)		(21.9)
Comprehensive income																	(5.8)		(8.2)		2.2
Comprehensive income attributable to Cytec Industries Inc.																	$ (5.8)		$ (8.2)		$ 2.2
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Continuing operations																	$ 1.05		$ (0.40)		$ (0.59)
Discontinued operations (net of noncontrolling interests)																	$ 0.10		$ 0.12		$ 0.14
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)																	$ 1.15		$ (0.28)		$ (0.45)
Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract]
Continuing operations																	$ 1.02		$ (0.39)		$ (0.58)
Discontinued operations (net of noncontrolling interests)																	$ 0.10		$ 0.11		$ 0.13
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)																	$ 1.12		$ (0.28)		$ (0.45)

[1] The sum of the quarters may not equal the full year basic and diluted net earnings per share since each period is calculated separately.