| 
           SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Details) (USD $) 
        In Millions, unless otherwise specified  | 
        3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 
           Sep. 30, 2012 
         | 
        
           Sep. 30, 2011 
         | 
        
           Sep. 30, 2012 
         | 
        
           Sep. 30, 2011 
         | 
        
           Sep. 30, 2012
 
          HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES 
         | 
        
           Sep. 30, 2011
 
          HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES 
         | 
        
           Sep. 30, 2012
 
          HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES 
         | 
        
           Sep. 30, 2011
 
          HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES 
         | 
        
           Sep. 24, 2012
 
          Term Loan B 
         | 
        
           Sep. 07, 2012
 
          Term Loan B 
         | 
        
           Oct. 31, 2012
 
          Subsequent Event
 
          Term Loan B 
         | 
        
           Nov. 02, 2012
 
          Subsequent Event
 
          Debt refinancing
 
          Senior Notes due 2020 
         | 
      |
| SUBSEQUENT EVENTS | ||||||||||||
| Face amount of debt intended to be issued to redeem portion of existing senior notes | $ 300 | |||||||||||
| Expected loss on early extinguishment of debt | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 55 | |||
| Prepayment of term loan | $ 58 | $ 3 | $ 50 | |||||||||
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Increase of additional borrowings on existing and new debt instruments. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          The cash outflow for the extinguishment of long-term borrowing, with the highest claim on the assets of the entity in case of bankruptcy or liquidation, before its maturity. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Details 
          
  |