| 
           RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Details) (USD $) 
         | 
        12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 
           Dec. 31, 2012 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2011 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2010 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2012
 
          Unconsolidated affiliates 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2011
 
          Unconsolidated affiliates 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2010
 
          Unconsolidated affiliates 
         | 
        
           Mar. 31, 2010
 
          Huntsman Foundation 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2012
 
          Huntsman Foundation
 
          item 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2011
 
          Huntsman Foundation 
         | 
        
           Mar. 24, 2010
 
          Huntsman Foundation 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2012
 
          Jon M. Huntsman, executive chairman 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2012
 
          Jstar 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2011
 
          Jstar 
         | 
      |
| RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS | |||||||||||||
| Sales | $ 223,000,000 | $ 180,000,000 | $ 201,000,000 | $ 223,000,000 | $ 180,000,000 | $ 201,000,000 | |||||||
| Inventory purchases | 565,000,000 | 465,000,000 | 369,000,000 | ||||||||||
| Extension period of sublease | 10 years | ||||||||||||
| Monthly sublease payments before extension of lease term | 193,000 | ||||||||||||
| Monthly sublease payments | 115,000 | ||||||||||||
| Amount payable at the end of the lease term | 13,800,000 | ||||||||||||
| Current lease term | 10 years | ||||||||||||
| Amount payable by the unrelated third party to the subsidiary | 2,400,000 | ||||||||||||
| Appraised value of building donated | 10,000,000 | ||||||||||||
| Annual lease payments | 79,000,000 | 83,000,000 | 62,000,000 | 2,000,000 | |||||||||
| Operating lease payments during the period | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 | |||||||||||
| Number of five-year extensions | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Extension period of lease | 5 years | ||||||||||||
| Amount receivable on account of life insurance premium paid for related party | $ 2,000,000 | ||||||||||||
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Represents the per year amount payable by the unrelated third-party to the subsidiary of the entity for part-time use of the Aircraft. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Represents the appraised value of building at the time of donation. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Represents inventory purchases from related parties. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Represents the lease term. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Represents the monthly sublease payables under the lease agreement. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Represents the monthly sublease payable before the extension of lease term. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Represents the extension period available under the terms of lease agreement with related party. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Represents the number of extensions available under the terms of the lease agreement with related party. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Represents the amount payable at the end of the lease term. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Represents the extension period available under the terms of the sublease agreement with related party. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          For an unclassified balance sheet, amounts due from related parties including affiliates, employees, joint ventures, officers and stockholders, immediate families thereof, and pension funds. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Rental expense for the reporting period incurred under operating leases, including minimum and any contingent rent expense, net of related sublease income. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Cash payments to lessor's for use of assets under operating leases. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Details 
          
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Amount of revenue, fees and commissions earned from transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiaries; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) an entity and trusts for the benefit of employees, for example, but not limited to, pension and profit-sharing trusts that are managed by or under the trusteeship of the entity's management; (d) an entity and its principal, owners, management, or members of their immediate families; and (e) affiliates. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
  |