Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Details)		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 11, 2014 USD ($) mi	Jun. 30, 2007 mi	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) entity	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrual for environmental loss contingencies			$ 2,900,000	$ 5,000,000		$ 3,900,000	$ 6,600,000
Aggregate environmental accruals included in current other accrued liabilities			1,100,000	3,200,000
Amount which is better estimate within range			0	0
Remediation accrual balance if accrued at high end of the range of possible outcomes			28,000,000	28,000,000
Environmental remediation spending charged to reserve balance			2,600,000	4,900,000
Operating costs relating to environmental compliance			10,700,000	14,200,000
Lower Passaic River
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrual for environmental loss contingencies			$ 1,900,000	2,100,000
Number of entities, in addition to Hexcel, who received a directive from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection | entity			72
Portion of the river for which interim remedial options are considered (in miles) | mi	8	8
Remediation accrual balance if accrued at lower end of the range of possible outcomes					$ 2,300,000
Lower Passaic River | Minimum
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Expected cost of dredging of the lower eight miles of the river by EPA	$ 800,000,000
Lower Passaic River | Maximum
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Expected cost of dredging of the lower eight miles of the river by EPA	$ 3,250,000,000
Lodi Site | N J
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrual for environmental loss contingencies				1,700,000
Kent, Washington Site
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrual for environmental loss contingencies			$ 500,000	500,000
Omega Chemical Corporation Superfund Site, Whittier | California
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrual for environmental loss contingencies			$ 300,000	$ 600,000
Contribution to waste tonnage (as a percent)			1.07%