Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Details)	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2017 PRP	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) mi	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) entity mi	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrual for environmental loss contingencies			$ 2,600,000	$ 2,700,000
Aggregate environmental related accruals included in current accrued liabilities			700,000	800,000
Amount which is better estimate within range			0	0
Remediation accrual balance if accrued at high end of the range of possible outcomes			16,000,000
Omega Chemical Corporation Superfund Site, Whittier | California
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrual for environmental loss contingencies			$ 300,000	300,000
Minimum | Omega Chemical Corporation Superfund Site, Whittier | California
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Contribution to waste tonnage (as a percent)			1.21%
Maximum | Omega Chemical Corporation Superfund Site, Whittier | California
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Contribution to waste tonnage (as a percent)			2.07%
Lower Passaic River
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of entities, in addition to Hexcel, who received a directive from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection | entity			48
Length of river to perform a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (“RI/FS”) of environmental conditions | mi			17
Number of identified non governmental potentially responsible parties | PRP	120
Accrual for environmental loss contingencies			$ 2,100,000	$ 2,100,000
Lower Passaic River | Minimum
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Portion of the river for which Record of Decision setting forth the EPA's selected remedy (in miles) | mi		8
Expected cost of capping and dredging of the lower eight miles of the river by EPA		$ 970,000,000
Lower Passaic River | Maximum
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Portion of the river for which Record of Decision setting forth the EPA's selected remedy (in miles) | mi		9
Expected cost of capping and dredging of the lower eight miles of the river by EPA		$ 2,070,000,000