Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Changes in Each Component of AOCI, Net of Tax (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified
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3 Months Ended |
6 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2015
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Dec. 31, 2014
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Mar. 31, 2014
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Mar. 31, 2015
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Mar. 31, 2014
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Sep. 30, 2014
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Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items] |
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Balance attributable to Cabot Corporation |
$ (144)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |
$ (64)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |
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$ (64)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |
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Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications |
(131)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax |
(103)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax |
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Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income |
1us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax |
21us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax |
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Net other comprehensive items |
(130)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |
(82)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |
(7)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |
(212)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |
(28)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |
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Less: Noncontrolling interest |
(1)cbt_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAttributableToNonControllingInterest |
(2)cbt_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAttributableToNonControllingInterest |
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(1)cbt_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAttributableToNonControllingInterest |
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Balance attributable to Cabot Corporation |
(273)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |
(144)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |
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(273)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |
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Currency Translation Adjustment [Member] |
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Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items] |
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Balance attributable to Cabot Corporation |
(74)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
27us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
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27us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
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Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications |
(131)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
(103)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeReclassificationsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
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Net other comprehensive items |
(131)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
(103)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
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Less: Noncontrolling interest |
(1)cbt_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAttributableToNonControllingInterest / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
(2)cbt_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAttributableToNonControllingInterest / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
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(1)cbt_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAttributableToNonControllingInterest / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
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Balance attributable to Cabot Corporation |
(204)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
(74)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
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(204)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
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Unrealized Gains on Investments [Member] |
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Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items] |
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Balance attributable to Cabot Corporation |
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2us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
Balance attributable to Cabot Corporation |
2us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
2us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
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2us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
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2us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Liability Adjustments [Member] |
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Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items] |
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Balance attributable to Cabot Corporation |
(72)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |
(93)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |
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(93)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |
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Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income |
1us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |
21us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |
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Net other comprehensive items |
1us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |
21us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |
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Balance attributable to Cabot Corporation |
$ (71)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |
$ (72)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |
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$ (71)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |
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