Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Sep. 30, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared from the unaudited accounting records of Hexcel pursuant to rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements have been omitted pursuant to rules and regulations of the SEC. In the opinion of management, the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include all normal recurring adjustments as well as any non-recurring adjustments necessary to present a fair statement of financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2015 was derived from the audited 2015 consolidated balance sheet. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results expected for any other interim period or for the full year. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 4, 2016.
Investments in Affiliated Companies	Investments in Affiliated Companies We have a 50% equity ownership investment in a joint venture Aerospace Composites Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (“ACM”). This investment is accounted for using the equity method of accounting. In the second quarter of 2016, the Company invested a total of $25.0 million in two new affiliates. The investments are each below a 20% ownership level and the Company accounts for these investments using the cost method.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements In August 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) postponed Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers until 2018. The update clarifies the principles for recognizing revenue and develops a common revenue standard for all industries. Early application is permitted in 2017 for calendar year entities. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this prospective guidance on our consolidated results of operations and financial condition. In March of 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09 (ASU 2016-09) "Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting" intended to simplify the accounting for employee share-based payments. Under this guidance all excess tax benefits (“windfalls”) and deficiencies (“shortfalls”) related to employee stock compensation are recognized within income tax expense. Under prior guidance windfalls were recognized to Additional paid-in capital (“APIC”) and shortfalls were only recognized to the extent they exceed the pool of windfall tax benefits. The Company early adopted ASU 2016-09 effective for the quarter ended March 31, 2016. As a result of the adoption, tax benefits of $1.2 million and $2.4 million were recorded in the quarter and first nine months of 2016 reflecting the excess tax benefits. The adoption was on a prospective basis and therefore had no impact on prior years. The Company also recorded an adjustment to opening retained earnings of $0.4 million to recognize U.S. net operating loss carryforwards attributable to excess tax benefits on stock compensation that had not been previously recognized to APIC because they did not reduce income taxes payable.

Disclosure of accounting policy for the equity method of accounting for investments in common stock or other interests including unconsolidated subsidiaries, corporate joint ventures, noncontrolling interests in real estate ventures, limited partnerships, and limited liability companies. The accounting policy may include information such as: (1) initially recording an investment in the stock of an investee at cost; (2) adjusting the carrying amount of the investment to recognize the investor's share of the earnings or losses of the investee after the date of acquisition; and (3) adjustments to reflect the investor's share of changes in the investee's capital (dividends). This disclosure may also include a detailed description of the policy for determining the amount of equity method losses recognized after an investment has been reduced to zero as a result of previous losses, reasons for not using the equity method when the investor company owns 20 percent or more of the voting stock of the investee's company (including identification of the significant investee), reasons for using the equity method when the ownership percentage is less than 20 percent, and discussion of recognition of equity method losses when an investor's total investment in an investee includes, in addition to an investment in common stock, other investments such as preferred stock and loans to the investee. An entity also may describe how such investments are assessed for impairment.