Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 3,570	$ 3,224	$ 2,910
Cost of products sold	2,989	2,829	2,752
Gross profit	581	395	158
Selling and administrative expenses	320	304	289
Restructuring and long-lived asset impairment charges	3	18	75
Operating profit (loss)	258	73	(206)
Interest expense	203	206	211
Interest income	(3)	(4)	(6)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	41	0
Other (income) expense, net	(1)	0	(1)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	59	(170)	(410)
Income tax expense (benefit)	11	12	(14)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	48	(182)	(396)
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to USG	49	(183)	(396)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(2)	2	6
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	0	55	0
Net income (loss)	46	(125)	(390)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1)	1	0
Net income (loss) attributable to USG	$ 47	$ (126)	$ (390)
Income (loss) from continuing operations per basic share	$ 0.45	$ (1.72)	$ (3.81)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations per basic share	$ (0.02)	$ 0.53	$ 0.05
Basic earnings (loss) per common share	$ 0.43	$ (1.19)	$ (3.76)
Income (loss) from continuing operations per diluted share	$ 0.44	$ (1.72)	$ (3.81)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations per diluted share	$ (0.02)	$ 0.53	$ 0.05
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share	$ 0.42	$ (1.19)	$ (3.76)
Average common shares	108,891,703	106,382,934	103,902,038
Average diluted common shares	111,434,543	106,382,934	103,902,038