| 
           OPERATING SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) 
        In Millions, unless otherwise specified  | 
        3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 
           Dec. 31, 2012 
         | 
        
           Sep. 30, 2012 
         | 
        
           Jun. 30, 2012 
         | 
        
           Mar. 31, 2012 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2011 
         | 
        
           Sep. 30, 2011 
         | 
        
           Jun. 30, 2011 
         | 
        
           Mar. 31, 2011 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2012
 
          item 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2011 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2010 
         | 
      |
| OPERATING SEGMENT INFORMATION | |||||||||||
| Number of segments | 5 | ||||||||||
| Segment reporting information | |||||||||||
| Revenues | $ 2,619 | $ 2,741 | $ 2,914 | $ 2,913 | $ 2,632 | $ 2,976 | $ 2,934 | $ 2,679 | $ 11,187 | $ 11,221 | $ 9,250 | 
| Segment EBITDA | 1,187 | 1,039 | 700 | ||||||||
| Interest expense, net | (226) | (249) | (229) | ||||||||
| Income tax expense-continuing operations | (169) | (109) | (29) | ||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit)-discontinued operations | 3 | 5 | (10) | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | (432) | (439) | (405) | ||||||||
| Net income attributable to Huntsman Corporation or Huntsman International LLC | (40) | 116 | 124 | 163 | 105 | (34) | 114 | 62 | 363 | 247 | 27 | 
| 
           Subtotal 
         | 
        |||||||||||
| Segment reporting information | |||||||||||
| Segment EBITDA | 1,192 | 1,045 | 647 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 427 | 439 | 404 | ||||||||
| 
           Polyurethanes 
         | 
        |||||||||||
| Segment reporting information | |||||||||||
| Revenues | 4,894 | 4,434 | 3,605 | ||||||||
| Segment EBITDA | 726 | 469 | 319 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 152 | 160 | 155 | ||||||||
| 
           Performance Products 
         | 
        |||||||||||
| Segment reporting information | |||||||||||
| Revenues | 3,065 | 3,301 | 2,659 | ||||||||
| Segment EBITDA | 360 | 385 | 363 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 113 | 110 | 92 | ||||||||
| 
           Advanced Materials 
         | 
        |||||||||||
| Segment reporting information | |||||||||||
| Revenues | 1,325 | 1,372 | 1,244 | ||||||||
| Segment EBITDA | 54 | 125 | 143 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 31 | 33 | 33 | ||||||||
| 
           Textile Effects 
         | 
        |||||||||||
| Segment reporting information | |||||||||||
| Revenues | 752 | 737 | 787 | ||||||||
| Segment EBITDA | (49) | (199) | 1 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 23 | 27 | 26 | ||||||||
| 
           Pigments 
         | 
        |||||||||||
| Segment reporting information | |||||||||||
| Revenues | 1,436 | 1,642 | 1,213 | ||||||||
| Segment EBITDA | 352 | 501 | 205 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 69 | 74 | 67 | ||||||||
| 
           Eliminations 
         | 
        |||||||||||
| Segment reporting information | |||||||||||
| Revenues | (285) | (265) | (258) | ||||||||
| 
           Corporate and other 
         | 
        |||||||||||
| Segment reporting information | |||||||||||
| Segment EBITDA | (251) | (236) | (384) | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 39 | 35 | 31 | ||||||||
| 
           Discontinued Operations 
         | 
        |||||||||||
| Segment reporting information | |||||||||||
| Segment EBITDA | (5) | (6) | 53 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 5 | 1 | |||||||||
| 
           HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES 
         | 
        |||||||||||
| Segment reporting information | |||||||||||
| Revenues | 2,619 | 2,741 | 2,914 | 2,913 | 2,632 | 2,976 | 2,934 | 2,679 | 11,187 | 11,221 | 9,250 | 
| Segment EBITDA | 1,187 | 1,039 | 860 | ||||||||
| Interest expense, net | (238) | (262) | (248) | ||||||||
| Income tax expense-continuing operations | (179) | (113) | (40) | ||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit)-discontinued operations | 3 | 5 | (10) | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | (408) | (416) | (382) | ||||||||
| Net income attributable to Huntsman Corporation or Huntsman International LLC | (45) | 117 | 127 | 166 | 104 | (31) | 117 | 63 | 365 | 253 | 180 | 
| 
           HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES | Subtotal 
         | 
        |||||||||||
| Segment reporting information | |||||||||||
| Segment EBITDA | 1,192 | 1,045 | 807 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 403 | 416 | 381 | ||||||||
| 
           HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES | Polyurethanes 
         | 
        |||||||||||
| Segment reporting information | |||||||||||
| Segment EBITDA | 726 | 469 | 319 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 152 | 160 | 155 | ||||||||
| 
           HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES | Performance Products 
         | 
        |||||||||||
| Segment reporting information | |||||||||||
| Segment EBITDA | 360 | 385 | 363 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 113 | 110 | 92 | ||||||||
| 
           HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES | Advanced Materials 
         | 
        |||||||||||
| Segment reporting information | |||||||||||
| Segment EBITDA | 54 | 125 | 143 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 31 | 33 | 33 | ||||||||
| 
           HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES | Textile Effects 
         | 
        |||||||||||
| Segment reporting information | |||||||||||
| Segment EBITDA | (49) | (199) | 1 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 23 | 27 | 26 | ||||||||
| 
           HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES | Pigments 
         | 
        |||||||||||
| Segment reporting information | |||||||||||
| Segment EBITDA | 352 | 501 | 205 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 69 | 74 | 67 | ||||||||
| 
           HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES | Corporate and other 
         | 
        |||||||||||
| Segment reporting information | |||||||||||
| Segment EBITDA | (251) | (236) | (224) | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 15 | 12 | 8 | ||||||||
| 
           HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES | Discontinued Operations 
         | 
        |||||||||||
| Segment reporting information | |||||||||||
| Segment EBITDA | (5) | (6) | 53 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | $ 5 | $ 1 | |||||||||