Derivative Financial Instruments (Details) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended														12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Swap Agreements	Dec. 31, 2011 Interest Rate Swap Agreements U.S. dollars	Dec. 31, 2011 Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swap Agreement U.S. dollars	Dec. 31, 2011 Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swap Agreement Euro	Dec. 31, 2011 Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Hedge of Euro investment in Hexcel France SA Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swap Agreement USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Hedge of Euro investment in Hexcel France SA Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swap Agreement USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 Hedge of Euro investment in Hexcel France SA Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swap Agreement USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Cash flow hedges Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Cash flow hedges Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 Cash flow hedges Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Designated as Hedging Instrument Interest Rate Swap Agreements USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Designated as Hedging Instrument Interest Rate Swap Agreements USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Designated as Hedging Instrument Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swap Agreement USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Designated as Hedging Instrument Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swap Agreement USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2006 Designated as Hedging Instrument Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swap Agreement USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Designated as Hedging Instrument Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Designated as Hedging Instrument Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Not Designated as Hedging Instrument Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Not Designated as Hedging Instrument Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Not Designated as Hedging Instrument Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts USD:EUR USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Not Designated as Hedging Instrument Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts USD:EUR USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Not Designated as Hedging Instrument Foreign Currency Forward Exchange Contracts GBP:EUR GBP (£)
Derivative Financial Instruments
Floating rate obligation															$ 98	$ 98
Average fixed interest rate (as a percent)	1.03%	1.03%
Variable rate basis	LIBOR		LIBOR	three month LIBOR	three month EURIBOR
Payment due to maturity of derivative instrument	5.2																5.2
Notional amount																			63.4	168.9	124.2			149.0	85.9	1.0
Gains (losses) excluded from assessment of hedge effectiveness									(0.6)	(0.3)		1.4
Gains (losses) recognized in income												3.1	(5.7)
Gains (losses) in other comprehensive income, effective portion									3.5	5.4	1.2	2.9	3.9	(4.1)
Carrying value / fair value of derivative assets not designated as hedging instruments included in other assets																				0.6		0.1	0.3
Carrying value / fair value of derivative liabilities not designated as hedging instruments included in other liabilities															0.6			3.0		6.6		3.8	1.7
Accumulated other comprehensive income, change in fair value of foreign currency forward exchange contracts under hedge designations
Unrealized losses at beginning of period	0.2					(0.2)	(1.4)	(8.9)
Gains (losses) reclassified to net sales						(2.2)	3.9	4.3
(Decrease) increase in fair value, net of tax						(2.1)	(2.7)	3.2
Unrealized losses at end of period, net of tax	(4.8)					(4.5)	(0.2)	(1.4)
Foreign currency gain (loss) reclassified into earnings over next twelve months						$ 2.2