| 
           BUSINESS COMBINATIONS AND DISPOSITIONS (Details 2) 
        In Millions, unless otherwise specified  | 
        1 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 
           Jul. 31, 2012
 
          Russian MDI Acquisition
 
          USD ($) 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2012
 
          Russian MDI Acquisition
 
          USD ($) 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2012
 
          Russian MDI Acquisition
 
          USD ($) 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2011
 
          Russian MDI Acquisition
 
          USD ($) 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2010
 
          Russian MDI Acquisition
 
          USD ($) 
         | 
        
           Jul. 03, 2012
 
          Russian MDI Acquisition
 
          USD ($) 
         | 
        
           Jul. 03, 2012
 
          Russian MDI Acquisition
 
          EUR (€) 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2012
 
          Russian MDI Acquisition
 
          HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
          USD ($) 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2011
 
          Russian MDI Acquisition
 
          HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
          USD ($) 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2010
 
          Russian MDI Acquisition
 
          HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
          USD ($) 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2011
 
          Laffans Petrochemicals Limited
 
          USD ($) 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2010
 
          Laffans Petrochemicals Limited
 
          USD ($) 
         | 
        
           Apr. 02, 2011
 
          Laffans Petrochemicals Limited
 
          USD ($) 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2011
 
          Laffans Petrochemicals Limited
 
          HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
          USD ($) 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2010
 
          Laffans Petrochemicals Limited
 
          HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
          USD ($) 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2012
 
          Ciba's textile effects business
 
          USD ($) 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2011
 
          Ciba's textile effects business
 
          USD ($) 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2010
 
          Ciba's textile effects business
 
          USD ($) 
         | 
      |
| Estimated pro forma revenues and net income attributable | ||||||||||||||||||
| Remaining percentage of noncontrolling interest acquired | 55.00% | 55.00% | ||||||||||||||||
| Ownership interest immediately prior to acquisition (as a percent) | 45.00% | 45.00% | ||||||||||||||||
| Fair value of previously noncontrolling interest | $ 13 | |||||||||||||||||
| Non-cash pretax loss on consolidation of Investment | (4) | |||||||||||||||||
| Discount rate | 17.00% | |||||||||||||||||
| Terminal growth rate | 4.00% | |||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition cost | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cash payments made | 16 | 13 | 23 | |||||||||||||||
| Fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed: | ||||||||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable | 2 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||
| Inventories | 9 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Other current assets | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment | 31 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||
| Intangible assets | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable | (4) | (3) | ||||||||||||||||
| Accrued liabilities | (1) | (1) | ||||||||||||||||
| Other noncurrent liabilities | (1) | |||||||||||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | (2) | |||||||||||||||||
| Long-term debt | (7) | |||||||||||||||||
| Total fair value of net assets acquired | 29 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | 28 | |||||||||||||||||
| Earnings | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| Pro forma combined earnings | 30 | |||||||||||||||||
| Estimated pro forma revenues and net income (loss) attributable to business acquisition | ||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | 11,231 | 11,257 | 9,277 | 11,231 | 11,257 | 9,277 | 11,235 | 9,301 | 11,235 | 9,301 | ||||||||
| Net income attributable to business acquisition | 248 | 28 | 254 | 181 | ||||||||||||||
| Additional extraordinary gain (loss) on the acquisition | $ 2 | $ 4 | $ (1) | |||||||||||||||