Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended						1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Jun. 30, 2007 Lower Passaic River Study Area option mile	Oct. 31, 2005 Lower Passaic River Study Area Entity	May 31, 2005 Lower Passaic River Study Area Entity	Feb. 29, 2004 Lower Passaic River Study Area Entity	Oct. 31, 2003 Lower Passaic River Study Area Entity	Feb. 04, 2009 Lower Passaic River Study Area Entity	Jun. 30, 2007 Lower Passaic River Study Area Maximum	Jun. 30, 2007 Lower Passaic River Study Area Minimum	Dec. 31, 2011 Lodi, New Jersey Site	Dec. 31, 2010 Lodi, New Jersey Site	Dec. 31, 2011 Hurricane Irene	Dec. 31, 2011 Kent, Washington Site	Dec. 31, 2011 Omega Chemical Corporation Superfund Site, Whittier, CA
Environmental costs
Number of entities, in addition to Hexcel, who received a directive from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection								66
Number of entities who received notice from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)							42
Estimated cost for study of environmental conditions by EPA							$ 10
Number of participating entities financing the study of environmental conditions by EPA						43
Maximum amount of financing for the study of environmental conditions by EPA						10
Number of entities assuming responsibility for environmental study by EPA					73
Portion of the river for which interim remedial options are considered (in miles)				8
Number of interim remedial options				6
Estimated cost of the six interim remedial options for the lower eight miles of the river										2,300	900
Minimum number of entities against whom third party complaint was filed									300
Approximate contribution to waste tonnage (as a percent)																1.07%
Environmental remediation reserve activity
Beginning remediation accrual balance	7.3	8.3	9.2												1.4
Current period expenses	3.4	3.8	1.9									2.7	3.5	2.5
Cash expenditures	(5.7)	(4.8)	(2.8)
Ending remediation accrual balance	5.0	7.3	8.3									2.8			1.4
Capital expenditure for environmental matters	4.1	1.7	4.8
Aggregate environmental accruals included in current other accrued liabilities	3.3	4.2
Remediation accrual balance if accrued at high end of the range of possible outcomes	6.8	8.8
Changes in accrued product warranty cost
Balance at the beginning of the period	4.3	3.7	3.8
Warranty expense	2.0	1.9	0.6
Deductions and other	(0.6)	(1.3)	(0.7)
Balance at the end of the period	$ 5.7	$ 4.3	$ 3.7