Cover - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2022	Apr. 28, 2022
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2022
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-34474
Entity Registrant Name	Century Aluminum Company
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	13-3070826
Entity Address, Address Line One	One South Wacker Drive
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 1000
Entity Address, City or Town	Chicago
Entity Address, State or Province	IL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	60606
City Area Code	312
Local Phone Number	696-3101
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Entity Trading Symbol	CENX
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		91,231,611
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000949157
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2022
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31