Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended					3 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2012 Lower Passaic River Study Area mile Entity	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	Oct. 31, 2003 Lower Passaic River Study Area Entity	Jun. 30, 2012 Lower Passaic River Study Area	Feb. 04, 2009 Lower Passaic River Study Area Entity	Feb. 29, 2004 Lower Passaic River Study Area	Jun. 30, 2007 Lower Passaic River Study Area Minimum	Jun. 30, 2007 Lower Passaic River Study Area Maximum	Jun. 30, 2012 Lodi, New Jersey Site	Dec. 31, 2012 Kent, Washington Site	Dec. 31, 2012 Omega Chemical Corporation Superfund Site, Whittier, CA
Environmental costs
Accrued additional charges									$ 0.5
Number of entities, in addition to Hexcel, who received a directive from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection								66
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												900	2,300
Number of PRPs entered into environmental activities with EPA				69
Portion of the river for which remedial activities are considered (in miles)				10.9
Environmental remediation activity, Cash expenditures	3.4	5.7	4.8	20.0
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	5.0	7.3	8.3												1.1
Current period expenses	5.0	3.4	3.8											4.4
Cash expenditures	(3.4)	(5.7)	(4.8)	(20.0)
Ending remediation accrual balance	6.6	5.0	7.3											4.4	1.1
Capital expenditure for environmental matters	2.4	4.1	1.7
Aggregate environmental accruals included in current other accrued liabilities	4.2	3.3
Remediation accrual balance if accrued at high end of the range of possible outcomes	9.2	6.8
Environmental remediation spending charged to reserve balance	3.4	5.7
Operating costs relating to environmental compliance	5.0	2.7	3.5
Changes in accrued product warranty cost
Balance at the beginning of the period	5.7	4.3	3.7
Warranty expense	2.2	2.0	1.9
Deductions and other	(2.8)	(0.6)	(1.3)
Balance at the end of the period	$ 5.1	$ 5.7	$ 4.3