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Quarterly Financial Data (Details Textual) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]            
Long-lived asset impairment charges $ 90us-gaap_TangibleAssetImpairmentCharges $ 30us-gaap_TangibleAssetImpairmentCharges   $ 90us-gaap_TangibleAssetImpairmentCharges $ 0us-gaap_TangibleAssetImpairmentCharges $ 8us-gaap_TangibleAssetImpairmentCharges
Litigation settlement charge   48us-gaap_GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement   48us-gaap_GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement 0us-gaap_GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement 0us-gaap_GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement
Contract termination charge and loss on receivable 15usg_ContractTerminationChargeAndLossOnReceivable     15usg_ContractTerminationChargeAndLossOnReceivable 0usg_ContractTerminationChargeAndLossOnReceivable 0usg_ContractTerminationChargeAndLossOnReceivable
Pension settlement charges 13usg_PensionSettlementExpense   16usg_PensionSettlementExpense 13usg_PensionSettlementExpense 16usg_PensionSettlementExpense 0usg_PensionSettlementExpense
Self-unloading ocean vessels            
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]            
Long-lived asset impairment charges $ 60us-gaap_TangibleAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= usg_SelfunloadingoceanvesselsMember
    $ 60us-gaap_TangibleAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= usg_SelfunloadingoceanvesselsMember