XML 191 R69.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Debt (Details Textual) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Jun. 30, 2012
Apr. 30, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Nov. 30, 2013
Aug. 01, 2014
Apr. 12, 2012
Oct. 31, 2013
Mar. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Amount of debt outstanding $ 2,209us-gaap_LongTermDebt $ 2,355us-gaap_LongTermDebt       $ 2,355us-gaap_LongTermDebt          
Debt conversion, aggregate principal amount 75us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtAmount1                    
Percentage ownership of common stock 30.00%usg_AffiliatesOfBerkshireHathawayPercentageOwnershipOfUsgCommonStock                    
Notes payable to related parties, net of unamortized debt discount 0us-gaap_DueToRelatedPartiesNoncurrent 54us-gaap_DueToRelatedPartiesNoncurrent       54us-gaap_DueToRelatedPartiesNoncurrent          
Loss on extinguishment of debt 0us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt 0us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt 41us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt                
Current portion of long-term debt 4us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent 63us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent       63us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent          
9.75% senior notes due 2014                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Amount of debt outstanding 0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_NinePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFourteenNetOfDiscountMember
59us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_NinePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFourteenNetOfDiscountMember
      59us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_NinePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFourteenNetOfDiscountMember
  59us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_NinePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFourteenNetOfDiscountMember
     
Stated interest rate 9.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_NinePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFourteenNetOfDiscountMember
9.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_NinePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFourteenNetOfDiscountMember
      9.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_NinePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFourteenNetOfDiscountMember
         
Repurchase amount       123us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRepurchaseAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_NinePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFourteenNetOfDiscountMember
        118us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRepurchaseAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_NinePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFourteenNetOfDiscountMember
   
Aggregate consideration       145usg_AggregateConsiderationOfDebtInstrumentRepurchaseAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_NinePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFourteenNetOfDiscountMember
        136usg_AggregateConsiderationOfDebtInstrumentRepurchaseAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_NinePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFourteenNetOfDiscountMember
   
Loss on extinguishment of debt       41us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_NinePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFourteenNetOfDiscountMember
             
5.875% senior notes due 2021                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Amount of debt outstanding 350us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_FivePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyOneMember
350us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_FivePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyOneMember
      350us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_FivePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyOneMember
      350us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_FivePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyOneMember
 
Stated interest rate 5.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_FivePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyOneMember
5.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_FivePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyOneMember
      5.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_FivePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyOneMember
         
Percentage of purchase price of notes at their principal amount 101.00%usg_AmountOfPremiumAssociatedWithContractualRedemptionOfCertainNotesUponOccurrenceOfSpecifiedEventOrEvents
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_FivePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyOneMember
                   
Percentage of principal amount of the notes being redeemed 100.00%usg_PercentOfRedemptionPriceEqualToPrincipalAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_FivePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyOneMember
                   
7.875% senior notes due 2020 (net of discount: 2014 - $1; 2013 - $1)                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Amount of debt outstanding 249us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyMember
249us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyMember
      249us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyMember
         
Stated interest rate 7.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyMember
7.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyMember
      7.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyMember
         
Percentage of purchase price of notes at their principal amount 101.00%usg_AmountOfPremiumAssociatedWithContractualRedemptionOfCertainNotesUponOccurrenceOfSpecifiedEventOrEvents
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyMember
                   
Percentage of principal amount of the notes being redeemed 100.00%usg_PercentOfRedemptionPriceEqualToPrincipalAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyMember
                   
Unamortized discount 1us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyMember
1us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyMember
      1us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyMember
         
Face amount of notes                 250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyMember
   
Defer of financing costs that will be amortized to interest expense                 5us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyMember
   
8.375% senior notes due 2018                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Amount of debt outstanding 350us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_EightPointThreeSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
350us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_EightPointThreeSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
      350us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_EightPointThreeSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
         
Stated interest rate 8.375%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_EightPointThreeSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
8.375%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_EightPointThreeSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
      8.375%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_EightPointThreeSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
         
Percentage of purchase price of notes at their principal amount 101.00%usg_AmountOfPremiumAssociatedWithContractualRedemptionOfCertainNotesUponOccurrenceOfSpecifiedEventOrEvents
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_EightPointThreeSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
                   
Percentage of principal amount of the notes being redeemed 100.00%usg_PercentOfRedemptionPriceEqualToPrincipalAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_EightPointThreeSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
                   
7.75% senior notes due 2018                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Amount of debt outstanding 500us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SevenPointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
500us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SevenPointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
      500us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SevenPointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
         
Stated interest rate 7.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SevenPointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
7.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SevenPointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
      7.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SevenPointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
         
Percentage of purchase price of notes at their principal amount 101.00%usg_AmountOfPremiumAssociatedWithContractualRedemptionOfCertainNotesUponOccurrenceOfSpecifiedEventOrEvents
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SevenPointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
                   
Percentage of principal amount of the notes being redeemed 100.00%usg_PercentOfRedemptionPriceEqualToPrincipalAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SevenPointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
                   
6.3% senior notes due 2016                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Amount of debt outstanding 500us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SixPointThreePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandSixteenMemberMember
500us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SixPointThreePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandSixteenMemberMember
      500us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SixPointThreePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandSixteenMemberMember
         
Stated interest rate 6.30%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SixPointThreePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandSixteenMemberMember
6.30%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SixPointThreePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandSixteenMemberMember
      6.30%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SixPointThreePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandSixteenMemberMember
         
Percentage of purchase price of notes at their principal amount 101.00%usg_AmountOfPremiumAssociatedWithContractualRedemptionOfCertainNotesUponOccurrenceOfSpecifiedEventOrEvents
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SixPointThreePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandSixteenMemberMember
                   
Percentage of principal amount of the notes being redeemed 100.00%usg_PercentOfRedemptionPriceEqualToPrincipalAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SixPointThreePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandSixteenMemberMember
                   
10% convertible senior notes due 2018                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Amount of debt outstanding 0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
72us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
      72us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
         
Stated interest rate 10.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
10.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
      10.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
         
Debt conversion, aggregate principal amount         75us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtAmount1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
325us-gaap_DebtConversionOriginalDebtAmount1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
         
Debt conversion, number of shares issued         6,578,946us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentSharesIssued1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
28,508,768us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentSharesIssued1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
         
Unamortized discount 0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
3us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
      3us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
         
Aggregate principal amount of outstanding notes   75us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
      75us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
        75us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
Ship Mortgage Facility                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Amount of debt outstanding 21us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_ShipMortgageFacilityMember
25us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_ShipMortgageFacilityMember
      25us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_ShipMortgageFacilityMember
         
Current portion of long-term debt 4us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_ShipMortgageFacilityMember
4us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_ShipMortgageFacilityMember
      4us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_ShipMortgageFacilityMember
         
Affiliates of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. | 10% convertible senior notes due 2018                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Notes payable to related parties prior to conversion             300usg_DuetoRelatedPartiesNoncurrentFaceValue
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= usg_AffiliatesOfBerkshireHathawayMember
       
Notes payable to related parties   56usg_DueToRelatedPartiesNoncurrentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= usg_AffiliatesOfBerkshireHathawayMember
      56usg_DueToRelatedPartiesNoncurrentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= usg_AffiliatesOfBerkshireHathawayMember
         
Notes payable to related parties, net of unamortized debt discount   54us-gaap_DueToRelatedPartiesNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= usg_AffiliatesOfBerkshireHathawayMember
      54us-gaap_DueToRelatedPartiesNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= usg_AffiliatesOfBerkshireHathawayMember
         
Related party interest expense 2us-gaap_InterestExpenseRelatedParty
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= usg_AffiliatesOfBerkshireHathawayMember
29us-gaap_InterestExpenseRelatedParty
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= usg_AffiliatesOfBerkshireHathawayMember
31us-gaap_InterestExpenseRelatedParty
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= usg_AffiliatesOfBerkshireHathawayMember
               
Accrued interest payable to related parties   $ 0.5us-gaap_DueToRelatedPartiesCurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= usg_AffiliatesOfBerkshireHathawayMember
      $ 0.5us-gaap_DueToRelatedPartiesCurrent
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= usg_AffiliatesOfBerkshireHathawayMember
         
10% convertible senior notes due 2018                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Percentage of purchase price of notes at their principal amount             105.00%usg_AmountOfPremiumAssociatedWithContractualRedemptionOfCertainNotesUponOccurrenceOfSpecifiedEventOrEvents
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= usg_TenPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
       
Maximum | 7.75% senior notes due 2018                      
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                      
Interest rate increase 2.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateIncreaseDecrease
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= usg_SevenPointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandEighteenMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember