Usg (USG) 10-K 3 Mar 14 2013 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Entity Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'USG CORP	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000757011	'	'
Document Type	'10-K	'	'
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-13	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'FY	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'Yes	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'	'
Entity Public Float	'	'	$1,754,959,829
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	137,441,359	'

Consolidated_Statements_of_Ope

Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	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

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	$46	($125)	($390)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives, Net of Tax [Abstract]	'	'	'
Gain (loss) on derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges, net of tax (benefit) of $0, $0 and $(1), respectively	4	-5	0
Less: Reclassification adjustment for gain (loss) on derivatives included in net income, net of tax (benefit) of $0, $0 and $(2), respectively	1	-9	-20
Derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges, net of tax (benefit) of $0, $0 and $1, respectively	3	4	20
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net of Tax [Abstract]	'	'	'
Changes in pension and postretirement benefits, net of tax (benefit) of $10, $(7) and $(7), respectively	247	-81	-117
Less: Amortization of prior service benefit (cost) included in net periodic pension cost, net of tax (benefit) of $(2), $(1) and $(1), respectively	-24	1	-2
Pension and postretirement benefits, net of tax (benefit) of $12, $(6) and $(6), respectively	271	-82	-115
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax [Abstract]	'	'	'
Changes in foreign currency translation, net of tax of $0	-17	22	-29
Less: Translation gains realized upon sale of foreign entities, net of tax of $0	0	3	0
Foreign currency translation, net of tax of $0	-17	19	-29
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	257	-59	-124
Comprehensive income (loss)	$303	($184)	($514)

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com1

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parentheticals) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Tax Effect [Abstract]	'	'	'
Loss on derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges, tax	$0	$0	($1)
Less: Reclassification adjustment for loss on derivatives inlcuded in net income, tax	0	0	-2
Derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges, tax	0	0	1
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Tax [Abstract]	'	'	'
Changes in pension and postretirement benefit, tax	10	-7	-7
Less: Amortizaton of prior service benefit (cost) included in net periodic pension cost, tax	-2	-1	-1
Pension and postretirement benefit, tax	12	-6	-6
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Tax [Abstract]	'	'	'
Changes in foreign currency translation, tax	0	0	0
Less: Translation gains realized upon sale of foreign entities, tax	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation, tax	$0	$0	$0

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Current Assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$810	$546
Short-term marketable securities	82	106
Restricted cash	5	1
Receivables (net of reserves: 2013 - $12; 2012- $16)	369	326
Inventories	332	304
Income taxes receivable	3	2
Deferred income taxes	52	2
Other current assets	47	40
Total current assets	1,700	1,327
Long-term marketable securities	60	25
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,103	2,100
Deferred income taxes	17	38
Other assets	241	233
Total assets	4,121	3,723
Current Liabilities:	'	'
Accounts payable	284	286
Accrued expenses	216	237
Current portion of long-term debt	63	4
Deferred income taxes	0	22
Income taxes payable	5	2
Total current liabilities	568	551
Long-term debt	2,238	2,016
Long-term debt - related party	54	289
Deferred income taxes	66	5
Pension and other postretirement benefits	277	573
Other liabilities	256	270
Total liabilities	3,459	3,704
Stockholders' Equity:	'	'
Preferred stock – $1 par value, authorized 36,000,000 shares; outstanding - none	0	0
Common stock – $0.10 par value; authorized 200,000,000 shares; issued: 2013 - 137,314,000 shares; 2012 - 107,851,000 shares	14	11
Treasury stock at cost - 2013 - 0 shares; 2012 - 1,000 shares	0	0
Additional Paid in Capital	2,920	2,595
Accumulated other comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	24	-233
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	-2,320	-2,367
Stockholders' equity of parent	638	6
Noncontrolling interest	24	13
Total stockholders' equity including noncontrolling interest	662	19
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$4,121	$3,723

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]	'	'
Reserves on receivables	$12	$16
Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$1	$1
Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized	36,000,000	36,000,000
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$0.10	$0.10
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	200,000,000	200,000,000
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	137,314,000	107,851,000
Treasury Stock, Shares	0	1,000

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Operating Activities	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	$46	($125)	($390)
Less: Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	-2	2	6
Less: Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	0	55	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations	48	-182	-396
Adjustments to reconcile income (loss) from continuing operations to net cash:	'	'	'
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	155	156	164
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	41	0
Long-lived asset impairment charges	0	8	53
Share-based compensation expense	19	17	21
Deferred income taxes	2	4	-8
Provision for Bad Debt	0	7	9
Gain on asset dispositions	-1	-8	-6
Pension Settlement	16	0	0
(Increase) decrease in working capital:	'	'	'
Receivables	-44	6	-15
Income taxes receivable	-1	6	-5
Inventories	-28	-12	-17
Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Assets	-4	5	-3
Payables	-4	27	17
Accrued expenses	-23	14	-10
Decrease (increase) in other assets	-6	1	-2
Increase (Decrease) in Pension and Postretirement Obligations	-63	-16	-23
(Decrease) increase in other liabilities	-6	-5	17
Other, net	20	-1	-1
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities - continuing operations	80	68	-205
Investing Activities	'	'	'
Purchases of marketable securities	-205	-137	-355
Sales or maturities of marketable securities	194	291	345
Capital expenditures	-124	-70	-54
Acquisition of mining rights	-17	-16	0
Net proceeds from asset dispositions	2	14	9
Net proceeds from sale of business	0	73	0
Investment in joint ventures	-5	-14	0
Loans to joint ventures	0	-4	-4
Insurance proceeds	2	0	2
Return (deposit) of restricted cash	-4	1	2
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities - continuing operations	-157	138	-55
Financing Activities	'	'	'
Issuance of debt	361	248	0
Repayment of debt	-4	-283	-6
Payment of debt issuance fees	-6	-5	0
Loan from venture partner	4	4	0
Issuance of common stock	4	4	0
Repurchases of common stock to satisfy employee tax withholding obligations	-9	-6	-3
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities - continuing operations	350	-38	-9
Net cash provided by operating activities - discontinued operations	-2	10	11
Net cash used for investing activities - discontinued operations	0	-1	-1
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	-7	4	-5
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	264	181	-264
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	546	365	629
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	810	546	365
Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures:	'	'	'
Interest paid, net of interest capitalized	192	200	196
Income taxes paid, net of refunds received	10	1	6
Amount in accounts payable for capital expenditures	13	10	5
Conversion of $325 million of 10% convertible senior notes due 2018, net of discount	-314	'	'
Issuance of common stock upon conversion of debt	313	'	'
Acceleration of deferred financing fee amortization to additional paid-in capital	$1	'	'

Consolidated_Statements_of_Sto

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $)	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Stockholders Equity Attributable to USG [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Total Stockholders' Equity Including Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 31, 2010	$619	$10	($55)	$2,565	($1,851)	($50)	$619	$0
Common Stock, Shares, Issued at Dec. 31, 2010	'	103,972	-1,096	'	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	-390	'	'	'	-390	'	-390	'
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	-124	'	'	'	'	-124	-124	'
Share-based Compensation	21	'	'	21	'	'	21	'
Stock Issuances, Number	'	1,357	1,096	'	'	'	'	'
Value of Stock Issuances	30	'	55	-25	'	'	30	'
Total Stockholders' Equity Including Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 31, 2011	156	10	0	2,561	-2,241	-174	156	0
Common Stock, Shares, Issued at Dec. 31, 2011	'	105,329	0	'	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	-125	'	'	'	-126	'	-126	1
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	-59	'	'	'	'	-59	-59	'
Share-based Compensation	17	'	'	17	'	'	17	'
Stock Issuances, Number	'	2,522	0	'	'	'	'	'
Value of Stock Issuances	24	1	6	17	'	'	24	'
Repurchases of Common Stock, Number	'	'	-1	'	'	'	'	'
Value of Repurchases of Common Stock	-6	'	-6	'	'	'	-6	'
Changes in Noncontrolling Interest	12	'	'	'	'	'	0	12
Total Stockholders' Equity Including Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 31, 2012	19	11	0	2,595	-2,367	-233	6	13
Common Stock, Shares, Issued at Dec. 31, 2012	'	107,851	-1	'	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	46	'	'	'	47	'	47	-1
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	257	'	'	'	'	257	257	'
Share-based Compensation	19	'	'	19	'	'	19	'
Stock Issuances, Number	'	954	314	'	'	'	'	'
Value of Stock Issuances	5	0	9	-4	'	'	5	'
Repurchases of Common Stock, Number	'	'	-313	'	'	'	'	'
Value of Repurchases of Common Stock	-9	'	-9	'	'	'	-9	'
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Conversion of Convertible Securities	'	28,509	'	'	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock upon conversion of debt	313	3	'	310	'	'	313	'
Changes in Noncontrolling Interest	12	'	'	'	'	'	0	12
Total Stockholders' Equity Including Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 31, 2013	$662	$14	$0	$2,920	($2,320)	$24	$638	$24
Common Stock, Shares, Issued at Dec. 31, 2013	'	137,314	0	'	'	'	'	'

Significant_Accounting_Policie

Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Significant Accounting Policies	'
	Significant Accounting Policies
	Nature of Operations
	USG, through its subsidiaries, is a leading manufacturer and distributor of building materials. We produce a wide range of products for use in new residential, new nonresidential, and residential and nonresidential repair and remodel construction as well as products used in certain industrial processes. Our products also are distributed through building materials dealers, home improvement centers and other retailers, specialty wallboard distributors, and contractors.
	Segments
	Our operations are organized into three reportable segments: North American Gypsum, Worldwide Ceilings and Building Products Distribution. Our determination of the reportable segments was made on the basis of our strategic business units and the commonalities among the products within each segment, and corresponds to the manner in which management reviews and evaluates operating performance. Certain similar operating segments that meet applicable aggregation criteria have been combined.
	North American Gypsum manufactures SHEETROCK® brand gypsum wallboard and related products. Worldwide Ceilings manufactures ceiling tile in the United States and ceiling grid in the United States, Canada and the Asia-Pacific region. Building Products Distribution distributes gypsum wallboard, drywall metal, ceilings products, joint compound and other building products throughout the United States.
	Consolidation and Presentation
	Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of USG Corporation, its majority-owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities. Entities in which we have more than a 20% but not more than 50% ownership interest are accounted for using the equity method of accounting and are not material to our consolidated operations. All intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. On our consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, a portion of the amounts previously included within "(Decrease) increase in other liabilities" have been reclassified to "(Decrease) increase in pension and other postretirement benefits" to conform to the current year presentation, and amounts previously included in "Receivables" have been reclassified to "Provision for Bad Debt."
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
	Revenue Recognition
	With the exception of our Building Products Distribution segment, we recognize revenue upon the shipment of products to customers, which is when title and risk of loss are transferred to customers, and our products are generally shipped free on board, commonly called FOB, shipping point. For Building Products Distribution, revenue is recognized and title and risk of loss are transferred when customers receive products, either through delivery by company trucks or customer pickup. We record provisions for discounts to customers based on the terms of sale in the same period in which the related sales are recorded. We record estimated reductions to revenue for customer programs and incentive offerings, including promotions and other volume-based incentives, in the period in which the sale occurs.
	Shipping and Handling Costs
	Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of products sold.
	Advertising
	Advertising expenses consist of media advertising and related production costs and sponsorships. We charge advertising expenses to earnings as incurred. These expenses amounted to $22 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 and $15 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.
	Research and Development
	We charge research and development expenditures to earnings as incurred. These expenditures amounted to $21 million, $18 million and $13 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
	Income Taxes
	We record income tax expense (benefit) under the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on the future tax consequences to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and attributable to net operating loss, or NOL, and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or paid. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in earnings in the period when the change is enacted. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized.
	Inventory Valuation
	All of our inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Virtually all of our inventories are valued under the average cost method with the remainder valued under the first-in, first-out cost method. Inventories include materials, labor and applicable factory overhead costs. Depreciation associated with manufacturing assets is excluded from inventory cost, but is included in cost of products sold.
	Earnings (Loss) per Share
	Basic earnings (loss) per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the dilutive effect, if any, of restricted stock units, or RSUs, and performance shares, the potential exercise of outstanding stock options and the potential conversion of our 10% convertible senior notes.
	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	Cash and cash equivalents include highly liquid investments, primarily money market funds, with maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase.
	Marketable Securities
	Marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale securities and reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), or AOCI. If it is deemed that marketable securities have unrealized losses that are other than temporary, these losses will be recorded in earnings immediately. Situations in which losses may be considered other than temporary include when we have decided to sell a security or when it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before we recover its amortized cost basis.
	Receivables
	We include trade receivables in receivables on our consolidated balance sheets. Trade receivables are recorded at net realizable value, which includes allowances for cash discounts and doubtful accounts, and are reflected net of customer incentives. We review the collectability of trade receivables on an ongoing basis. We reserve for trade receivables determined to be uncollectible. This determination is based on the delinquency of the account, the financial condition of the customer and our collection experience.
	We include short-term financing receivables in receivables and long-term financing receivables in other assets on our consolidated balance sheets. Financing receivables are recorded at net realizable value which includes an allowance for credit losses. We review the collectability of financing receivables on an ongoing basis. We reserve for financing receivables determined to be uncollectible. This determination is based on the delinquency of the account and the financial condition of the other party. As of December 31, 2013, the allowance for credit losses was immaterial.
	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost. We record depreciation of property, plant and equipment on a straight-line basis over the expected useful lives of the assets. We have determined estimated useful lives to be 50 years for buildings and improvements, a range of 10 to 25 years for machinery and equipment, and 5 years for computer software and systems development costs. Leasehold improvements are capitalized and amortized over the shorter of the remaining lease term or remaining economic useful life. We capitalize interest during the active construction period of major capital projects. Capitalized interest is added to the cost of the underlying assets and is depreciated over the useful lives of those assets. There was $3 million of interest capitalized in 2013, and no interest was capitalized in 2012 or 2011. Facility start-up costs that cannot be capitalized are expensed as incurred and recorded in cost of products sold. We compute depletion on a basis calculated to spread the cost of gypsum and other applicable resources over the estimated quantities of material recoverable. We review property, plant and equipment for impairment when indicators of a potential impairment are present by comparing the carrying values of the assets with their estimated future undiscounted cash flows. If we determine an impairment exists, the asset is written down to estimated fair value. As of December 31, 2013, we had $1 million of net property, plant and equipment included in other current assets on the consolidated balance sheet classified as “assets held for sale.” These assets are included in our North American Gypsum reportable segment. As of December 31, 2012, there were no assets classified as held for sale on our consolidated balance sheet. In 2012, we recognized a gain on the sale of approximately $4 million of assets which were previously classified as assets held for sale as of December 31, 2011.
	Intangible Assets
	We perform impairment tests for intangible assets with indefinite useful lives as of October 31 of each year, or more frequently if events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of an intangible asset below its carrying value. The impairment test consists of a comparison of the fair value of the asset with its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of an intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. Intangible assets determined to have indefinite useful lives, primarily comprised of trade names, are not amortized. An income approach is used for valuing trade names. Assumptions used in the income approach include projected revenues and assumed royalty, long-term growth and discount rates. We perform impairment tests on definite lived intangible assets, such as customer relationships, upon identification of events or circumstances that may indicate the carrying amount of the assets might be unrecoverable by comparing their undiscounted cash flows with their carrying value. If we determine impairment exists, the assets are written down to estimated fair value.
	Share-Based Compensation
	We award share-based compensation to employees in the form of stock options, restricted stock units, market share units, and performance shares and to directors in the form of shares of our common stock. All grants under share-based payment programs are accounted for at fair value at the date of grant. We recognize expense on all share-based awards to employees expected to vest over the service period, which is the shorter of the period until the employees’ retirement eligibility dates or the service period of the award.
	Derivative Instruments
	We use derivative instruments to manage selected commodity price and foreign currency exposures. We do not use derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes, and we typically do not hedge beyond two years. All derivative instruments must be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. For derivatives designated as fair value hedges, the changes in the fair values of both the derivative instrument and the hedged item are recognized in earnings in the current period. For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative is recorded to AOCI, and is reclassified to earnings when the underlying forecasted transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative is reported in cost of products sold in the current period. We periodically reassess the probability of the underlying forecasted transaction occurring. For derivatives designated as net investment hedges, we record changes in fair value to AOCI. For derivatives not designated as hedging instruments, all changes in fair value are recorded to earnings in the current period.
	Currently, we are using swap and option contracts to hedge a significant portion of our anticipated purchases of natural gas to be used in our manufacturing operations. Generally, we hedge the cost of a majority of our anticipated purchases of natural gas over the next 12 months. However, we review our positions regularly and make adjustments as market conditions warrant. The majority of contracts currently in place are designated as cash flow hedges, and the remainder are not designated as hedging instruments.
	We have operations in a number of countries and use forward contracts from time-to-time to hedge the risk of changes in cash flows resulting from selected forecasted intercompany and third-party sales or purchases, as well as intercompany loans, denominated in non-U.S. currencies, or to hedge the risk of selected changes in our net investment in foreign subsidiaries. These contracts are designated as either cash flow hedges or net investment hedges or are not designated as hedging instruments.
	Foreign Currency Translation
	We translate foreign-currency-denominated assets and liabilities into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates existing as of the respective balance sheet dates. We translate income and expense items at the average exchange rates during the respective periods. We record translation adjustments resulting from fluctuations in exchange rates to AOCI on our consolidated balance sheets. We record transaction gains and losses to earnings. The total transaction loss was $4 million in 2013, $0 in 2012 and $4 million in 2011.
	Fair Value Measurements
	Certain assets and liabilities are required to be recorded at fair value. The estimated fair values of those assets and liabilities have been determined using market information and valuation methodologies. Changes in assumptions or estimation methods could affect the fair value estimates. However, we do not believe any such changes would have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
	•	Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets;
	•	Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets; and
	•	Level 3 – Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.
	Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis rather than on an ongoing basis, but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances, such as when there is evidence of impairment or when a new liability is being established that requires fair value measurement.

Recent_Accounting_Pronouncemen

Recent Accounting Pronouncements	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]	'
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	'
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued "Comprehensive Income: Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income," which requires entities to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. In addition, entities are required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income but only if the amount is required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts that are not required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, entities are required to cross-reference to other disclosures required under U.S. GAAP that provide additional detail on these amounts. This standard is effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. We adopted this standard during the first quarter of 2013 and have included the required disclosure in Note 11.
	In December 2011 and February 2013, the FASB issued an amendment to the Balance Sheet topic of the Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, which requires entities to disclose both gross and net information about both derivatives and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of financial position and instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting agreement. The objective of the disclosure is to facilitate comparison between those entities that prepare their financial statements on the basis of U.S. GAAP and those entities that prepare their financial statements on the basis of International Financial Reporting Standards. This standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after January 1, 2013. Retrospective presentation for all comparative periods presented is required. Accordingly, we adopted this amendment during the first quarter of 2013 and have included the required disclosure in Note 7.

Discontinued_Operations

Discontinued Operations	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]	'
Discontinued Operations	'
	Discontinued Operations
	On August 7, 2012, USG and its indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, USG Foreign Investments, Ltd. and USG (U.K.) Ltd., together the Sellers, entered into a Share and Asset Purchase Agreement, or SAPA, with Knauf International GmbH and Knauf AMF Ceilings Ltd., together Knauf, pursuant to which the Sellers agreed to sell to Knauf certain of their wholly owned European business operations. Those businesses include the manufacture and distribution of DONN® brand ceiling grid and SHEETROCK® brand finishing compounds principally throughout Europe, Russia and Turkey.
	On December 27, 2012, the sale of the European business operations was consummated in accordance with the terms of the SAPA, and we received net proceeds of $73 million resulting in a gain of $55 million, net of tax. Affiliates of Knauf are the beneficial owners of approximately 11% of USG’s outstanding shares of common stock.
	The results of our European business operations sold to Knauf are classified as discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying footnotes presented in this report.
	Sales from discontinued operations, operating profit from discontinued operations and income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes were as follows:
		Twelve months ended December 31,
	(millions)	2013			2012		2011
	Sales from discontinued operations	$	—		$	106	$	114
	Operating profit from discontinued operations	—			7		9
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes	(1		)	6		10

Marketable_Securities

Marketable Securities	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]	'
Marketable Securities	'
	Marketable Securities
	Our investments in marketable securities as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 consisted of the following:
		2013				2012
	millions	Amortized		Fair		Amortized		Fair
		Cost		Value		Cost		Value
	Corporate debt securities	$	87	$	87	$	82	$	82
	U.S. government and agency debt securities	12		12		16		16
	Non-U.S. government debt securities	—		—		1		1
	Asset-backed debt securities	20		20		6		6
	Certificates of deposit	17		17		16		16
	Municipal debt securities	6		6		10		10
	Total marketable securities	$	142	$	142	$	131	$	131
	The realized and unrealized gains and losses as of and for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were immaterial.
	Contractual maturities of marketable securities as of December 31, 2013 were as follows:
	(millions)	Amortized		Fair
		Cost		Value
	Due in 1 year or less	$	82	$	82
	Due in 1-5 years	60		60
	Total marketable securities	$	142	$	142

Intangible_Assets

Intangible Assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Intangible Assets	'
	Intangible Assets
	Intangible assets are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Intangible assets with definite lives are amortized. These assets are summarized as follows:
		As of December 31, 2013							As of December 31, 2012
	(millions)	Gross		Accumulated			Net		Gross		Accumulated			Net
		Carrying		Amortization					Carrying		Amortization
		Amount							Amount
	Intangible Assets with Definite Lives:
	Customer relationships	$	70	$	(48	)	$	22	$	70	$	(41	)	$	29
	Other	9		(6		)	3		9		(6		)	3
	Total	$	79	$	(54	)	$	25	$	79	$	(47	)	$	32
	The weighted average amortization periods are 10 years for customer relationships and 11 years for other intangible assets with definite lives. Total amortization expense was $7 million in 2013, $8 million in 2012 and $7 million in 2011. Estimated annual amortization expense is as follows:
	(millions)	2014		2015			2016		2017		2018 and thereafter
	Estimated annual amortization expense	$	7	$	7		$	7	$	2	$	2
	Intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized. These assets are summarized as follows:
		As of December 31, 2013							As of December 31, 2012
	(millions)	Gross		Impairment			Net		Gross		Impairment			Net
		Carrying		Charges					Carrying		Charges
		Amount							Amount
	Intangible Assets with Indefinite Lives:
	Trade names	$	22	$	—		$	22	$	22	$	—		$	22
	Other	8		1			7		8		—			8
	Total	$	30	$	1		$	29	$	30	$	—		$	30
	In 2013, 2012 and 2011, there was no impairment for any of our customer relationship or trade name intangible assets.

Debt

Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Debt	'
	Debt
	Total debt as of December 31 consisted of the following:
	(millions)	2013		2012
	5.875% senior notes due 2021	$	350	$	—
	6.3% senior notes due 2016	500		500
	7.75% senior notes due 2018 (net of discount: 2012 - $1)	500		499
	7.875% senior notes due 2020 (net of discount: 2013 - $1; 2012 - $2)	249		248
	8.375% senior notes due 2018	350		350
	9.75% senior notes due 2014	59		59
	10% convertible senior notes due 2018 (net of discount: 2013 - $3; 2012 - $15) (1)	72		385
	Ship mortgage facility (includes current portion of long-term debt: 2013 - $4; 2012 - $4)	25		29
	Credit facilities of Oman joint ventures	11		—
	Industrial revenue bonds (due 2028 through 2034)	239		239
	Total	$	2,355	$	2,309
	(1) In December 2013, $325 million of these notes were converted into shares of our common stock. See discussion below under Convertible Senior Notes and December 2013 Conversion.
	5.875% Senior Notes due 2021 - On October 31, 2013, we issued $350 million aggregate principal amount of 5.875% senior notes due 2021. The notes bear interest at a rate of 5.875% per year and we will pay interest on May 1 and November 1 of each year, beginning May 1, 2014. The notes mature on November 1, 2021. See below for further description of these notes under Senior Notes.
	2012 Repurchase of 9.75% Senior Notes and Issuance of 7.875% Senior Notes - On April 12, 2012, we completed a cash tender offer pursuant to which we repurchased approximately $118 million of our 9.75% senior notes due in 2014 for aggregate consideration, including tender offer premium and accrued and unpaid interest, of approximately $136 million. Subsequent to the completion of the cash tender offer, we repurchased an additional $123 million of these notes in privately negotiated transactions, for aggregate consideration, including premiums and accrued and unpaid interest, of $145 million. As a result of the repurchases, in the second quarter of 2012, we recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $41 million, including premiums, the write-off of unamortized debt discount and deferred financing fees. As of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, $59 million of these notes remain outstanding, net of an immaterial amount of unamortized debt discount. Also on April 12, 2012, we issued $250 million of 7.875% senior notes due March 30, 2020. The net proceeds from the issuance of these notes and cash on hand were used to fund the repurchases of the 9.75% senior notes and all related costs and expenses. We deferred $5 million of financing costs which we are amortizing to interest expense over the term of the notes. As of December 31, 2013, these notes are recorded on the consolidated balance sheet at $249 million, net of unamortized debt discount of $1 million.
	Senior Notes
	All of the senior notes, including the senior notes issued in October 2013, are senior unsecured obligations and rank equally with all of our other existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness. The indentures governing the notes contain events of default, covenants and restrictions that are customary for similar transactions, including a limitation on our ability and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to create or incur secured indebtedness.
	Our obligations under the 5.875%, 7.875%, 8.375% and 9.75% senior notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by certain of our domestic subsidiaries.
	The interest rate payable on the 7.75% senior notes is subject to adjustment from time to time by up to 2% in the aggregate if the debt ratings assigned to the notes are upgraded or thereafter downgraded. At our current credit ratings, the interest rate on these notes is at the maximum level of 9.75%.
	The 5.875%, 7.875%, 8.375% and 9.75% senior notes contain a provision requiring us to offer to purchase those notes at a premium of 101% of their principal amount (plus accrued and unpaid interest) in the event of a change in control. The 7.75% and 6.3% senior notes contain a provision requiring us to offer to purchase those notes at a premium of 101% of their principal amount (plus accrued and unpaid interest) in the event of a change in control and a related downgrade of the rating on the notes to below investment grade by both Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC.
	The 6.3%, 7.75% and 9.75% senior notes contain a provision that allows us to redeem the notes in whole at any time, or in part from time to time, at our option, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed and (2) the sum of the present value of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the notes being redeemed discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis at the applicable U.S. Treasury rate plus a spread (as outlined in the respective indentures), plus, in each case, any accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to the redemption date.
	The 8.375% senior notes contain a similar provision that allows us to redeem those notes, in whole or in part from time to time, at our option, on or after October 15, 2014 at stated redemption prices, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. In addition, we may redeem the notes in whole or in part from time to time, at our option, prior to October 15, 2014 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus a premium (as specified in the supplemental indenture with respect to those notes), plus any accrued and unpaid interest.
	The 7.875% senior notes contain a similar provision that allows us to redeem those notes, in whole or in part from time to time, at our option, on or after March 30, 2016 at stated redemption prices, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. In addition, we may redeem the notes in whole or in part from time to time, at our option, prior to March 30, 2016 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed plus a premium (as specified in the supplemental indenture with respect to those notes), plus any accrued and unpaid interest.
	The 5.875% senior notes contain a similar provision that allows us to redeem those notes, in whole or in part from time to time, at our option, on or after November 1, 2016 at stated redemption prices, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. In addition, we may redeem the notes in whole or in part from time to time, at our option, prior to November 1, 2016 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed plus a premium (as specified in the supplemental indenture with respect to those notes), plus any accrued and unpaid interest.
	Convertible Senior Notes and December 2013 Conversion
	As of December 31, 2012, we had $400 million aggregate principal amount of 10% convertible senior notes due 2018 that were recorded on the consolidated balance sheet at $385 million, net of debt discount of $15 million. The notes bear cash interest at the rate of 10% per year until maturity, redemption or conversion. These notes are initially convertible into 87.7193 shares of our common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of $11.40 per share, or a total of 35.1 million shares. These notes contain anti-dilution provisions that are customary for convertible notes issued in transactions similar to that in which the notes were issued. These notes mature on December 1, 2018 and were callable beginning December 1, 2013, after which we could elect to redeem all or part of the notes at stated redemption prices, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
	In November 2013, we issued a notice of redemption to redeem $325 million in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes at the stated redemption price of 105%. In December 2013, the holders of all $325 million in notes called for redemption elected to convert their notes into shares of our common stock. Accordingly, we issued an additional 28,508,768 shares of our common stock in connection with the conversion of the notes. As of December 31, 2013, the amount recorded on our consolidated balance sheet for the outstanding convertible senior notes is $72 million, net of unamortized debt discount of $3 million.
	Affiliates of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., who own approximately 28% of our outstanding shares of common stock as of December 31, 2013, held $300 million of these notes, prior to the December 2013 conversion, which are reflected on our consolidated balance sheets, net of unamortized debt discount, at $289 million as of December 31, 2012. As of December 31, 2013, affiliates of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. held $56 million of these notes, which are reflected on our consolidated balance sheet, net of unamortized debt discount, at $54 million. Our consolidated statements of operations include the related interest expense of $29 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, and $31 million in each of the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, including the related accretion of the original debt discount. Our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 include the related accrued interest, in accrued expenses, of $0.5 million and $2.5 million, respectively.
	The notes are senior unsecured obligations and rank equally with all of our other existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness. The indenture governing the notes contains events of default, covenants and restrictions that are customary for similar transactions, including a limitation on our ability and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to create or incur secured indebtedness. The notes also contain a provision requiring us to offer to purchase the notes at a premium of 105% of their principal amount (plus accrued and unpaid interest) in the event of a change in control or the termination of trading of our common stock on a national securities exchange.
	Credit Facility
	Our credit facility allows for revolving loans and letters of credit (up to $250 million) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the lesser of (a) $400 million or (b) a borrowing base determined by reference to the trade receivables and inventory of USG and its significant domestic subsidiaries. The maximum allowable borrowings may be increased at our request with the agreement of the lenders providing increased or new lending commitments, provided that the maximum allowable borrowings after giving effect to the increase may not exceed $600 million. The credit facility is guaranteed by our significant domestic subsidiaries and secured by their and USG’s trade receivables and inventory. It is available to fund working capital needs and for other general corporate purposes.
	Borrowings under the credit facility bear interest at a floating rate based on a base rate or, at our option, at the adjusted London Interbank Offering Rate, or LIBOR, plus 3.00%. We are also required to pay annual facility fees of 0.75% on the entire facility, whether drawn or undrawn, and fees on outstanding letters of credit. We have the ability to repay amounts outstanding under the credit agreement at any time without prepayment premium or penalty. The credit facility matures on December 21, 2015 unless terminated earlier in accordance with its terms.
	The credit agreement contains a single financial covenant that would require us to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.1-to-1.0 if and for so long as the excess of the borrowing base over the outstanding borrowings under the credit agreement is less than the greater of (a) $40 million and (b) 15% of the lesser of (i) the aggregate revolving commitments at such time and (ii) the borrowing base at such time. As of December 31, 2013, our fixed charge coverage ratio was 1.15-to-1. Because we currently satisfy the required fixed charge coverage ratio, we are not required to maintain a minimum borrowing availability under the credit facility. The credit agreement contains other covenants and events of default that are customary for similar agreements and may limit our ability to take various actions. The credit agreement limits our ability to pay a dividend or repurchase our stock unless specified borrowing availability and fixed charge coverage ratio tests are met, and it prohibits payment of a dividend if a default exists under the agreement.
	Taking into account the most recent borrowing base calculation delivered under the credit facility, which reflects trade receivables and inventory as of December 31, 2013, and outstanding letters of credit, borrowings available under the credit facility were approximately $252 million. As of December 31, 2013 and during the year then-ended, there were no borrowings under the facility. Had there been any borrowings as of that date, the applicable interest rate would have been 3.3%. Outstanding letters of credit totaled $73 million as of December 31, 2013.
	CGC Credit Facility
	Our Canadian subsidiary, CGC Inc., or CGC, has a credit agreement with The Toronto-Dominion Bank which allows for revolving loans and letters of credit (up to Can. $3 million in aggregate) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed Can. $40 million. The credit agreement matures on June 30, 2015, unless terminated earlier in accordance with its terms. The credit agreement is available for the general corporate purposes of CGC, excluding hostile acquisitions. The credit agreement is secured by a general security interest in substantially all of CGC’s assets other than intellectual property. As of December 31, 2013 and during the year then ended, there were no borrowings outstanding under this credit agreement. Had there been any borrowings as of that date, the applicable interest rate would have been 4.0%. As of December 31, 2013, outstanding letters of credit totaled Can. $0.8 million. The U.S. dollar equivalent of borrowings available under this agreement as of December 31, 2013 was $37 million.
	Revolving loans under the agreement may be made in Canadian dollars or U.S. dollars. Under the credit agreement, revolving loans made in Canadian dollars bear interest at a floating rate based on the prime rate plus 1.25% or the Bankers’ Acceptance Discount Rate plus 2.75%, at the option of CGC. Revolving loans made in U.S. dollars bear interest at a floating rate based upon a base rate plus 1.25% or the LIBOR rate plus 2.75%, at the option of CGC. CGC may prepay the revolving loans at its discretion without premium or penalty and may be required to repay revolving loans under certain circumstances.
	The credit agreement contains customary representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants that may limit CGC’s ability to take certain actions and events of default. Borrowings under the credit agreement are subject to acceleration upon the occurrence of an event of default.
	Oman Credit Facilities
	In June 2013, our joint ventures in Oman, which are fully consolidated, each entered into separate secured credit agreements, which are guaranteed by us and our joint venture partner.  The credit agreement for Zawawi Gypsum LLC, or ZGL, which matures in 2020, provides for term loans not to exceed $10 million and overdraft and letter of credit facilities of approximately $3 million in the aggregate. The credit agreement for USG-Zawawi Drywall LLC, or ZDL, which matures in 2022, provides for term loans not to exceed $26 million and overdraft and letter of credit facilities of $5 million in the aggregate. Each credit agreement is secured by a general security interest in the applicable joint venture's assets. Loans under the credit agreements may be made in Omani Rial or U.S. dollars. Loans made in Omani Rial bear interest at 4% and loans made in U.S. dollars bear interest at a floating rate based on LIBOR plus 3.5%. Loans may be repaid at any time, subject to a prepayment penalty if repaid within the first two years, for ZGL, or three years, for ZDL. As of December 31, 2013, there were outstanding term loan borrowings of $10 million under the ZGL credit agreement and $1 million under the ZDL credit agreement, each with an average effective interest rate of 3.8%. See Note 21 for discussion of our contribution of ZGL and ZDL, and the corresponding Oman credit facilities, into the USG Boral Joint Venture on February 27, 2014.
	Ship Mortgage Facility
	Our subsidiary, Gypsum Transportation Limited, or GTL, has a secured loan facility agreement with DVB Bank SE, as lender, agent and security trustee. Both advances provided for under the secured loan facility have been drawn, and the total outstanding loan balances under the facility were $25 million as of December 31, 2013 and $29 million as of December 31, 2012. Of the total amounts outstanding on our consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, $4 million was classified as current portion of long-term debt as of both financial statement dates.
	The loan balance under the secured loan facility bears interest at a floating rate based on LIBOR plus a margin of 1.65%. The interest rate was 1.92% as of December 31, 2013. Each advance is repayable in quarterly installments in amounts determined in accordance with the secured loan facility agreement, with the balance of each advance repayable eight years after the date it was advanced, or October 31, 2016 and May 22, 2017. The secured loan facility agreement contains affirmative and negative covenants affecting GTL and certain customary events of default. GTL has granted DVB Bank SE a security interest in the Gypsum Centennial and Gypsum Integrity ships and related insurance, contract, account and other rights as security for borrowings under the secured loan facility. USG Corporation has guaranteed the obligations of GTL under the secured loan facility and has agreed to maintain liquidity of at least $175 million.
	Industrial Revenue Bonds
	Our $239 million of industrial revenue bonds have fixed interest rates ranging from 5.5% to 6.4%. The weighted average rate of interest on our industrial revenue bonds is 5.875%. These bonds mature during the years 2028 through 2034.
	OTHER INFORMATION
	The fair value of our debt was $2.659 billion as of December 31, 2013 and $3.093 billion as of December 31, 2012 and was determined using the fair value hierarchy of inputs described in Note 1. The fair values were based on quoted prices for identical or similar liabilities in markets that are not active or valuation models in which all significant inputs and value drivers are observable and, as a result, are classified as Level 2.
	Interest accrued on our debt as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $48 million and $47 million, respectively.
	As of December 31, 2013, we were in compliance with the financial covenants contained in our credit facilities.
	As of December 31, 2013, the amounts of total debt outstanding maturing in each of the next five years and beyond were as follows:
	(millions)	2014		2015		2016		2017		2018		After 2018
	Debt maturities	$	63	$	4	$	508	$	9	$	925	$	850

Derivative_Instruments

Derivative Instruments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Derivative Instruments	'
	Derivative Instruments
	COMMODITY DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
	As of December 31, 2013, we had 14 million mmBTUs (millions of British Thermal Units) in aggregate notional amount of outstanding natural gas swap and option contracts to hedge forecasted purchases. All of these contracts mature by December 31, 2014. For contracts designated as cash flow hedges, the unrealized gain that remained in AOCI as of December 31, 2013 was $1 million. No ineffectiveness was recorded on contracts designated as cash flow hedges in 2013. Gains and losses on contracts designated as cash flow hedges are reclassified into earnings when the underlying forecasted transactions affect earnings. For contracts designated as cash flow hedges, we reassess the probability of the underlying forecasted transactions occurring on a regular basis. Changes in fair value on contracts not designated as cash flow hedges are recorded to earnings. The fair value of those contracts not designated as cash flow hedges was a $2 million unrealized gain as of December 31, 2013.
	FOREIGN EXCHANGE DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
	We have foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge purchases of products and services denominated in foreign currencies. The notional amount of these contracts was $58 million as of December 31, 2013, and they mature by December 31, 2014. These forward contracts are designated as cash flow hedges and no ineffectiveness was recorded in 2013. Gains and losses on the contracts are reclassified into earnings when the underlying transactions affect earnings. The fair value of these contracts that remained in AOCI was a $1 million unrealized gain as of December 31, 2013.
	During the third quarter of 2012, we entered into foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge a portion of our net investment in one of our European subsidiaries. The notional amount of these contracts was $25 million and they matured on October 29, 2012. These forward contracts were designated as net investment hedges and no ineffectiveness was recorded in the fourth quarter. Gains and losses on derivatives designated as net investment hedges, to the extent they are effective as hedges, remain in AOCI until such point when the investment is either sold or liquidated. On December 27, 2012, we sold the subsidiary and, as a result, we reclassified the $1 million loss from AOCI to earnings as a reduction to the gain on the sale of the businesses. See Note 3 for further discussion on the sale.
	COUNTERPARTY RISK
	We are exposed to credit losses in the event of nonperformance by the counterparties to our derivative instruments. As of December 31, 2013, our derivatives were in a $5 million net asset position. All of our counterparties have investment grade credit ratings; accordingly, we anticipate that they will be able to fully satisfy their obligations under the contracts.
	Our derivative contracts are governed by master netting agreements negotiated between us and the counterparties that reduce our counterparty credit exposure. The agreements outline the conditions (such as credit ratings and net derivative fair values) upon which we, or the counterparties, are required to post collateral. As of December 31, 2013, we were not required to have any collateral posted with our counterparties related to our derivatives. As required by certain of our agreements, we had $1 million of collateral posted with our counterparties related to our derivatives as of December 31, 2012. Amounts paid as cash collateral are included in receivables on our consolidated balance sheets.
	We have not adopted an accounting policy to offset fair value amounts related to derivative contracts under our master netting arrangements; therefore, individual derivative contracts are reflected on a gross basis, as either assets or liabilities, on our consolidated balance sheets, based on their fair value as of the balance sheet date.
	FINANCIAL STATEMENT INFORMATION
	The following are the pretax effects of derivative instruments on the consolidated statements of operations and the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011:
		Amount of Gain or (Loss)												Location of Gain or (Loss)		Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from
		Recognized in												Reclassified from		AOCI into Income
		Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives (Effective Portion)												AOCI into Income		(Effective Portion)
														(Effective Portion)
	(millions)	2013				2012				2011						2013			2012			2011
	Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships
	Commodity contracts	$	1			$	(4	)		$	(3	)		Cost of products sold		$	(2	)	$	(10	)	$	(17	)
	Foreign exchange contracts	3				(1		)		2				Cost of products sold		3			2			(5		)
	Derivatives in Net Investment Hedging Relationships
	Foreign exchange contracts	—				—				—				Gain on sale of discontinued operations		—			(1		)	—
	Total	$	4			$	(5	)		$	(1	)				$	1		$	(9	)	$	(22	)
			Location of Gain or (Loss)		Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income
			Recognized in Income		on Derivatives
			on Derivatives
	(millions)				2013				2012				2011
	Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
	Commodity contracts		Cost of products sold		$	2			$	—			$	(4	)
	Foreign exchange contracts		Other (income) expense, net		—				—				—
	Total				$	2			$	—			$	(4	)
	As of December 31, 2013, we had no derivatives designated as net investment or fair value hedges.
	The following are the fair values of derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012:
		Balance Sheet	Fair Value								Balance Sheet	Fair Value
		Location									Location
	(millions)		12/31/13				12/31/12					12/31/13				12/31/12
	Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships
	Commodity contracts	Other current assets	$	2			$	1			Accrued expenses	$	—			$	2
	Foreign exchange contracts	Other current assets	1				1				Accrued expenses	—				—
	Total derivatives in hedging relationships		$	3			$	2				$	—			$	2
		Balance Sheet	Fair Value								Balance Sheet	Fair Value
		Location									Location
	(millions)		12/31/13				12/31/12					12/31/13				12/31/12
	Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
	Commodity contracts	Other current assets	$	2			$	1			Accrued expenses	$	—			$	—
	Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments		$	2			$	1				$	—			$	—
	Total derivatives	Total assets	$	5			$	3			Total liabilities	$	—			$	2

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Measurements	'
	Fair Value Measurements
	Certain assets and liabilities are required to be recorded at fair value. The fair values of our cash equivalents, marketable securities and derivatives were determined using the fair value hierarchy of inputs described in Note 1. The cash equivalents shown in the table below primarily consist of money market funds that are valued based on quoted prices in active markets and as a result are classified as Level 1. We use quoted prices, other readily observable market data and internally developed valuation models when valuing our derivatives and marketable securities and have classified them as Level 2. Derivatives are valued using the income approach including discounted-cash-flow models or a Black-Scholes option pricing model and readily observable market data. The inputs for the valuation models are obtained from data providers and include end-of-period spot and forward natural gas prices and foreign currency exchange rates, natural gas price volatility and LIBOR and swap rates for discounting the cash flows implied from the derivative contracts. Marketable securities are valued using income and market value approaches and values are based on quoted prices or other observable market inputs received from data providers. The valuation process may include pricing matrices, or prices based upon yields, credit spreads or prices of securities of comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type.
	Our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows:
		Quoted Prices				Significant					Significant				Total
		in Active				Other					Unobservable
		Markets for				Observable					Inputs
		Identical				Inputs					(Level 3)
		Assets				(Level 2)
		(Level 1)
	(millions)	12/31/13		12/31/12		12/31/13		12/31/12			12/31/13		12/31/12		12/31/13		12/31/12
	Cash equivalents	$	549	$	284	$	24	$	46		$	—	$	—	$	573	$	330
	Marketable securities:
	Corporate debt securities	—		—		87		82			—		—		87		82
	U.S. government and agency debt securities	—		—		12		16			—		—		12		16
	Non-U.S. government debt securities	—		—		—		1			—		—		—		1
	Asset-backed debt securities	—		—		20		6			—		—		20		6
	Certificates of deposit	—		—		17		16			—		—		17		16
	Municipal debt securities	—		—		6		10			—		—		6		10
	Derivative assets	—		—		5		3			—		—		5		3
	Derivative liabilities	—		—		—		(2		)	—		—		—		(2		)
	Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis rather than on an ongoing basis, but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances, such as when there is evidence of impairment or when a new liability is being established that requires fair value measurement.
	During the second quarter of 2012, we reviewed our property, plant and equipment for potential impairment by comparing the carrying values of those assets with their estimated future undiscounted cash flows for their remaining useful lives and determined that impairment existed for machinery and equipment for a previously idled production line. We measured the fair value of that machinery and equipment as of June 30, 2012 using measurements classified as Level 3. As a result, as disclosed in Note 12, we recorded long-lived asset impairment charges of $1 million that are included in restructuring and long-lived asset impairment charges in the consolidated statements of operations for 2012.
	During the third quarter of 2011, we decided that we would permanently close our gypsum quarry and ship loading facility in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada. We measured the fair value of the Windsor real property, buildings, machinery and equipment as of September 30, 2011 by evaluating the current economic conditions for similar use assets using measurements classified as Level 3 and maximizing the use of available and reliable inputs observable in the marketplace. The fair value of the real property and buildings was estimated after considering a range of possible outcomes based on recent comparable sales and similar properties currently being marketed. Due to the lack of an established secondary market for the machinery and equipment and the lack of an income stream attributable to the machinery and equipment, the fair values were developed based upon a market approach considering comparable equipment adjusted for condition, age, functionality, obsolescence, marketability and location. As a result of our evaluation, long-lived Windsor assets with a carrying amount of $59 million were written down to their fair value of $6 million, resulting in a long-lived asset impairment charge of $53 million that was included in the consolidated statement of operations for 2011. During the fourth quarter of 2012, as a result of a change in estimate related to reclamation activities, we increased the related asset retirement obligation by $7 million with a corresponding increase to the long-lived Windsor assets. See Notes 11 and 12. Consequently, we recorded a long-lived asset impairment charge of $7 million to impair the assets down to a fair value of $6 million.

Employee_Retirement_Plans

Employee Retirement Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Employee Retirement Plans	'
	Employee Retirement Plans
	We maintain defined benefit pension plans for most of our employees. Most of these plans require employee contributions in order to accrue benefits. Benefits payable under the plans are based on employees’ years of service and compensation during specified years of employment. Effective December 31, 2010, we amended the USG Corporation defined benefit pension plan to replace the final average pay formula with a cash balance formula for employees hired after that date.
	We also maintain plans that provide postretirement benefits (retiree health care and life insurance) for eligible employees. Employees hired before January 1, 2002 generally become eligible for the postretirement benefit plans when they meet minimum retirement age and service requirements. The cost of providing most postretirement benefits is shared with retirees.
	In 2013, we communicated to certain terminated vested participants in our USG Corporation Retirement Plan an option to receive a lump sum payment for their accrued benefits. The option commenced on October 1, 2013 and expired on November 15, 2013. For participants who elected this option, payments were made in December 2013 and we incurred a settlement charge of approximately $15 million, with a corresponding reduction in accumulated other comprehensive loss. As a result, the measurement of the pension benefit obligation, or PBO, as of December 31, 2013 included a reduction of approximately $80 million.
	In 2011, we amended our U.S. postretirement benefit plan to require retiree medical plan participants to begin purchasing individual coverage in the Affordable Insurance Exchanges or individual Medicare marketplace beginning January 1, 2015 using a company-funded subsidy. The subsidy will be determined based upon years of service at retirement and Medicare eligibility. The subsidy provided to retirees eligible for Medicare will end December 31, 2019. As a result of the amendment, the measurement of the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation, or APBO, as of December 31, 2011 includes a reduction of approximately $100 million. This amendment was accounted for as a credit to unrecognized prior service cost which will be amortized into the statement of operations over the average remaining service of active plan participants to retirement eligibility.
	In 2010, we converted our prescription drug program for retirees over the age of 65 to a group-based company sponsored Medicare Part D program, or Employer Group Waiver Plan, or EGWP. Beginning in 2012, we use the Part D subsidies delivered through the EGWP each year to reduce net company retiree medical costs until net company costs are completely eliminated. When those costs are eliminated, the Part D subsidies will be shared with retirees to reduce retiree contributions. The amount of the subsidies shared with retirees will reflect the various subsidy levels of our plan (subsidies vary by years of service at retirement). We formally adopted this change effective with the December 31, 2010 measurement of our liability for retiree medical costs. As a result, in the fourth quarter of 2010, we reduced our APBO by approximately $47 million and unrecognized prior service cost by the same amount. The credit to unrecognized prior service cost is being amortized into the statement of operations over the average remaining service of active plan participants to retirement eligibility.
	The components of net pension and postretirement benefit costs are summarized in the following table:
	(millions)	2013				2012				2011
	Pension Benefits:
	Service cost of benefits earned	$	38			$	32			$	28
	Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	63				64				63
	Expected return on plan assets	(76		)		(70		)		(65		)
	Settlement (a)	16				—				2
	Net amortization	43				34				24
	Net pension cost	$	84			$	60			$	52
	Postretirement Benefits:
	Service cost of benefits earned	$	3			$	3			$	6
	Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	7				8				14
	Net amortization	(34		)		(35		)		(22		)
	Net postretirement (benefit) cost	$	(24	)		$	(24	)		$	(2	)
	(a) In 2013, the settlement charge primarily relates to lump sum payments made to certain terminated vested participants in our USG Corporation Retirement Plan.
	We use a December 31 measurement date for our plans. The accumulated benefit obligation, or ABO, for the defined benefit pension plans was $1.186 billion as of December 31, 2013 and $1.370 billion as of December 31, 2012.
		As of December 31,
	(millions)	2013				2012
	Selected information for pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:
	Accumulated benefit obligation	$	(32	)		$	(1,368	)
	Fair value of plan assets	3				1,131
	Selected information for pension plans with benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:
	Benefit obligation	$	(1,146	)		$	(1,536	)
	Fair value of plan assets	1,021				1,133
	The following table summarizes projected benefit obligations, plan assets and funded status as of December 31:
		Pension								Postretirement
	(millions)	2013				2012				2013			2012
	Change in Benefit Obligation:
	Benefit obligation as of January 1	$	1,536			$	1,334			$	186		$	174
	Service cost	38				32				3			3
	Interest cost	63				64				7			8
	Curtailment/settlements	(103		)		—				—			—
	Participant contributions	10				9				8			8
	Benefits paid	(38		)		(75		)		(21		)	(22		)
	Plan amendment	1				1				—			—
	Actuarial (gain) loss	(115		)		164				(13		)	13
	Foreign currency translation	(16		)		7				(4		)	2
	Benefit obligation as of December 31	$	1,376			$	1,536			$	166		$	186
	Change in Plan Assets:
	Fair value as of January 1	$	1,133			$	965			$	—		$	—
	Actual return on plan assets	203				162				—			—
	Employer contributions	71				66				13			14
	Participant contributions	10				9				8			8
	Benefits paid	(38		)		(75		)		(21		)	(22		)
	Curtailment/settlements	(103		)		—				—			—
	Foreign currency translation	(14		)		6				—			—
	Fair value as of December 31	$	1,262			$	1,133			$	—		$	—
	Funded status	$	(114	)		$	(403	)		$	(166	)	$	(186	)
	Components on the Consolidated Balance Sheets:
	Noncurrent assets	$	11			$	—			$	—		$	—
	Current liabilities	(1		)		(2		)		(13		)	(14		)
	Noncurrent liabilities	(124		)		(401		)		(153		)	(172		)
	Net liability as of December 31	$	(114	)		$	(403	)		$	(166	)	$	(186	)
	Pretax Components in AOCI:
	Net actuarial loss	$	259			$	563			$	21		$	37
	Prior service cost (credit)	—				1				(179		)	(215		)
	Total as of December 31	$	259			$	564			$	(158	)	$	(178	)
For our defined benefit pension plans, the 2013 actuarial gain of $115 million is primarily due to an increase in the discount rates used to determine the benefit obligation. The weighted-average discount rate increased from 4.20% at December 31, 2012 to 4.90% at December 31, 2013. The 2012 actuarial loss of $164 million was primarily due to reductions in discount rates used to determine the benefit obligation. The weighted-average discount rate used to determine the benefit obligation decreased from 4.95% at December 31, 2011 to 4.20% at December 31, 2012.
For the defined benefit pension plans, we estimate that during 2014 we will amortize from AOCI into net pension cost a net actuarial loss of $22 million and prior service cost of $1 million. For the postretirement benefit plans, we estimate that during 2014 we will amortize from AOCI into net postretirement cost a net actuarial loss of $1 million and a prior service credit of $36 million.
ASSUMPTIONS
The following tables reflect the assumptions used in the accounting for our plans:
	Pension						Postretirement
	2013			2012			2013			2012
Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations as of December 31:
Discount rate	4.9	%		4.2	%		4.6	%		3.95	%
Compensation increase rate *	3.5	%		3.4	%
Weighted average assumptions used to determine net cost for years ended December 31:
Discount rate	4.2	%		4.95	%		3.95	%		4.5	%
Expected return on plan assets *	7	%		7	%
Compensation increase rate *	3.4	%		3.3	%
* Compensation increase rate and expected return on plan assets only applicable to our defined benefit pension plans.
For the measurement of the APBO at December 31, 2013 for our U.S. postretirement health care plan, the assumed health care cost trend rates start with an 8.00% increase in 2014, followed by a gradual decline in increases to 5.00% for 2020 and beyond. For the measurement of the APBO at December 31, 2012, the assumed health care cost trend rates started with a 7.10% increase in 2013, followed by a gradual decline in increases to 5.25% for 2016 and beyond.
Assumed health care cost trend rates can have a significant effect on the amounts reported for retiree health care costs. Effective January 1, 2011, we modified our U.S. postretirement health care plan to limit the increase in the annual amount we pay for retiree health care coverage for certain current and future retirees to 3% per year, which mitigates the impact of the increasing health care cost trend rates, as any additional increase will be the responsibility of plan participants. However, after January 1, 2015, due to the changes to the U.S. postretirement health care plan announced in 2011, as previously described, we will no longer have a material exposure to health care cost inflation for that plan.
For the measurement of the APBO at December 31, 2013 for our Canadian postretirement health care plan, the assumed health care cost trend rates start with a 8.5% increase in 2014, followed by a gradual decline in increases to 4% for 2032. For the measurement of the APBO at December 31, 2012, the assumed health care cost trend rates started with a 8.75% increase in 2013, followed by a gradual decline in increases to 4% for 2032 and beyond.
A one percentage point change in the assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects on our U.S. and Canadian plans:
(millions)	One-Percentage-				One-Percentage-
	Point Increase				Point Decrease
Effect on total service and interest cost	$	—			$	—
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation	11				(9		)
RETIREMENT PLAN ASSETS
Investment Policies and Strategies: We have established investment policies and strategies for the defined benefit pension plans’ assets with a long-term objective of maintaining the plans’ assets at a level equal to or greater than that of their liabilities (as measured by a funded ratio of 100% or more of the ABO) and maximizing returns on the plans’ assets consistent with our moderate tolerance for risk. Contributions are made to the plans periodically as needed to meet funding targets or requirements. Factors influencing our determination to accept a moderate degree of risk include the timing of plan participants’ retirements and the resulting disbursement of retirement benefits, the liquidity requirements of the plans and our financial condition.
Our overall long-term objective is to achieve a 7.0% rate of return on plan assets with a moderate level of risk as indicated by the volatility of investment returns. This rate of return target was established using a “building block” approach. In this approach, ranges of long-term expected returns for the various asset classes in which the plans invest are estimated. The estimated ranges are primarily based on observations of historical asset returns and their historical volatility. In determining the expected returns, we also consider consensus forecasts of certain market and economic factors that influence returns, such as inflation, gross domestic product trends and dividend yields. We then calculate an overall range of likely expected rates of return by applying the expected asset returns to the plans’ target asset allocation. The most likely rate of return is then determined and is adjusted to account for investment management fees.
Our investment strategy is to invest in a diversified mix of asset classes in accordance with an asset allocation that we believe is likely to achieve our long-term target return while prudently considering risk. This strategy recognizes that many investment professionals believe that certain asset classes, such as equities, may be expected to produce the greatest return in excess of inflation over time, but may also generate the greatest level of volatility. Conversely, many investment professionals believe that an asset class such as fixed income securities may be likely to be less volatile, but may also produce lower returns over time. In order to manage risk, the plans’ pension and investment committees periodically rebalance their asset allocations and monitor the investment performance of the individual investment managers compared to their benchmark returns and investment guidelines on an ongoing basis, in part through the use of quarterly investment portfolio reviews and compliance reporting by investment managers. The pension and investment committees also evaluate risk by periodically conducting asset/liability studies to assess the correlation of the plans’ assets and liabilities and the degree of risk in the target asset allocations. The plans limit the use of leverage to select investment strategies where leverage is typically employed, such as private equity and real estate. Certain investment managers utilize derivatives, such as swaps, bond futures, and options, as part of their investment strategies. This is done primarily to gain a desired market exposure or manage factors such as interest rate risk or duration of a bond portfolio. The following table shows the aggregate target asset allocation on a weighted average basis for all the plans and the acceptable ranges around the targets as of December 31, 2013.
	Investment Policy
	Target			Range
Asset Categories:
Equity	61	%		48% - 70%
Fixed income	23	%		14% - 32%
Limited partnerships	12	%		4% - 20%
Real estate	4	%		0% - 10%
Cash equivalents and short-term investments	—			0% - 8%
Total	100	%
Equity investments are in institutional commingled/pooled equity funds, equity mutual funds and direct holdings of the common stock of U.S. and non-U.S. companies. Both the equity funds and direct holdings are invested in companies with a range of market capitalizations. This category also includes an investment in USG Corporation shares of common stock as described below. Fixed income securities include U.S. Treasury securities, non-U.S. government debt securities such as Canadian federal bonds, corporate bonds of companies from diversified industries and mortgage-backed securities. Limited partnerships include investments in funds that follow any of several different strategies, including investing in distressed debt, energy development, infrastructure and a multi-strategy hedge fund. These investments use strategies with returns normally expected to have a reduced correlation to the return of equities as compared to other asset classes and often provide a current income component that is a meaningful portion of the investment’s total return. Real estate is primarily investments in large core, private real estate funds that directly own a diverse portfolio of properties located in the United States.
During 2012, we made contributions to our pension plans that included 1,249,219 shares of our common stock, or the Contributed Shares. The Contributed Shares were contributed to the USG Corporation Retirement Plan Trust, or Trust, and were recorded on the consolidated balance sheet at the June 25, 2012 closing price of $16.48 per share, or approximately $20.6 million in the aggregate. The Contributed Shares are not reflected on the consolidated statement of cash flows because they were treated as a noncash financing activity. The Contributed Shares were valued for purposes of crediting the contribution to the Trust at a discounted value of $16.01 per share ($16.48 less a 2.8% discount), or approximately $20 million in the aggregate, by an independent appraiser retained by Evercore Trust Company, N.A., or Evercore, an independent fiduciary that has been appointed as investment manager with respect to the Contributed Shares. The Contributed Shares are registered for resale, and Evercore has authority to sell some or all of them, as well as other of our shares in the Trust, in its discretion as fiduciary. The remainder of our 2012 pension plan contributions, and all of our 2013 contributions, were made in cash. The Trust held no shares of our common stock as of December 31, 2013.
Fair Values of Plan Assets:
Pension assets are classified based on the valuation methodologies and inputs used to determine the fair value as described in Note 1.
Level 1 investments include mutual funds, or direct investments in common stocks of U.S. and non-U.S. companies that trade on liquid exchanges. These investments are valued based on the closing price on these exchanges.
Level 2 investments include primarily fixed income securities such as corporate, or government debentures, mortgage- and asset-backed securities. They are valued using income and market approaches and values are based on quoted prices or other observable market inputs received from data providers. The valuation process may include pricing matrices, or prices based upon yields, credit spreads or prices of securities of comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type. Commingled funds not traded on an exchange, even though their underlying investments are common stocks traded on liquid exchanges, are also included in the Level 2 category. The net asset value of commingled funds investing in either stocks or fixed income securities is calculated by subtracting the value of any liabilities from the market value of all securities owned by a fund.
Level 3 investments include real estate, infrastructure, or direct energy investments as well as distressed securities or hedge funds. These are valued using income approach methodologies such as discounted cash flows, or market approach methodologies such as relative value (specific to equity securities), direct capitalization and comparable sales (specific to real estate investments). Some of the key inputs used to value these securities include discount rate, EBITDA multiple, yield-to-worst, yield-to-maturity, and cap rate (specific to real estate investments).
The fair values by hierarchy of inputs as of December 31 were as follows:
	Quoted Prices								Significant						Significant				Total
	in Active								Other						Unobservable
	Markets for								Observable						Inputs
	Identical								Inputs						(Level 3)
	Assets								(Level 2)
	(Level 1)
(millions)	2013				2012				2013			2012			2013		2012		2013			2012
Asset Categories:
Equity: (a)
Common and preferred stock	$	293			$	273			$	—		$	—		$	—	$	—	$	293		$	273
USG common stock	—				12				—			—			—		—		—			12
Commingled/pooled/mutual funds	131				112				396			324			—		—		527			436
Total equity	424				397				396			324			—		—		820			721
Fixed income: (b)
U.S. government and agency debt securities	—				—				23			20			—		—		23			20
Non-U.S. government and agency debt securities	—				—				15			15			—		—		15			15
Corporate debt securities	—				—				25			19			—		—		25			19
Commingled/pooled funds	—				—				279			227			—		—		279			227
Other	—				—				1			—			1		1		2			1
Total fixed income	—				—				343			281			1		1		344			282
Limited partnerships (c)	—				—				—			—			39		45		39			45
Real estate funds (d)	—				—				—			—			35		36		35			36
Cash equivalents and short-term investments (e)	—				—				22			45			—		—		22			45
Total	$	424			$	397			$	761		$	650		$	75	$	82	$	1,260		$	1,129
Cash on hand																			3			—
Receivables																			—			5
Accounts payable																			(1		)	(1		)
Total																			$	1,262		$	1,133
(a)	The majority of these funds are invested with investment managers that invest in common stocks of large capitalization U.S. companies. Approximately 82% of these investments are actively managed. USG common stock represents 424,219 shares of New York Stock Exchange listed common stock at December 31, 2012. Certain investments in commingled/pooled equity funds have been classified as Level 2 in 2013 and 2012 because observable quoted prices for these institutional funds are not available.
(b)	Includes investments in individual fixed income securities and in institutional funds that invest in fixed income securities. For 2013 and 2012, these fixed income assets were classified as Level 2.
(c)	Limited partnerships include investments in funds that follow several different strategies, including investing in distressed debt, energy development, infrastructure and a multi-strategy hedge fund. These investments use strategies with returns normally expected to have a low correlation to the return of equities and often provide a current income component that is a meaningful portion of the investment’s total return.
(d)	Includes investments in three different private real estate funds that invest primarily in a variety of property types in geographically diverse markets across the U.S.
(e)	Cash equivalents and short-term investments are primarily held in short-term investment funds or registered money market funds with daily liquidity.
A reconciliation of the change in the fair value measurement of the defined benefit plans’ consolidated assets using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) between December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2013 is as follows:
(millions)	Fixed				Real				Limited			Total
	Income				Estate				Partnerships
Balance as of December 31, 2011	$	1			$	33			$	88		$	122
Realized gains (losses)	—				1				10			11
Unrealized gains (losses)	—				1				(8		)	(7		)
Purchases, sales and settlements:
Purchases	—				1				3			4
Sales	—				—				(48		)	(48		)
Settlements	—				—				—			—
Net transfers into (out of) Level 3	—				—				—			—
Balance as of December 31, 2012	$	1			$	36			$	45		$	82
Realized gains (losses)	—				1				5			6
Unrealized gains (losses)	—				2				(1		)	1
Purchases, sales and settlements:
Purchases	—				—				—			—
Sales	—				(4		)		(10		)	(14		)
Settlements	—				—				—			—
Net transfers into (out of) Level 3	—				—				—			—
Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	1			$	35			$	39		$	75
CASH FLOWS
For 2014, our defined benefit pension plans have no minimum funding requirements under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. We are evaluating our level of funding for pension plans and currently estimate that we will contribute approximately $59 million to our pension plans in 2014. Our cash payments for postretirement plans are estimated to be $13 million in 2014.
Total benefit payments we expect to make to participants, which include payments funded from USG’s assets as well as payments from our pension plans' assets, are as follows (in millions):
Years ended December 31	Pension				Postretirement
	Benefits				Benefits
2014	$	72			$	13
2015	79				10
2016	84				11
2017	83				11
2018	100				12
2019 - 2023	558				53
Total charges for our defined contribution plans amounted to approximately $3 million in each of the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 and primarily consisted of contributions to our U.S. plan, commonly known as a 401(k) plan. The U.S. plan provides participating employees the opportunity to invest 1% to 50% of their compensation on a pretax basis in any of 21 investment options offered, subject to limitations on the amount that may be contributed by highly compensated employees. Participants earned a guaranteed company match of 10% on their contributions of up to 6% of their eligible compensation during 2013, 2012 and 2011. Effective as of January 1, 2014, the company match was increased to 25% of employee contributions up to 6% of their pay. Employees are fully vested in company matching contributions after three years of participation in the plan. USG’s contributions are charged to cost of products sold and selling and administrative expenses.

Share_Based_Compensation

Share Based Compensation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
Share Based Compensation	'
	Share-Based Compensation
	We grant share-based compensation to eligible participants under our amended Long-Term Incentive Plan, or LTIP. The LTIP was approved by our Board of Directors and stockholders. As of December 31, 2013, a total of 12.7 million shares of common stock were authorized for grants under the LTIP, of which 3.2 million shares were reserved for future grants. The LTIP authorizes the Board, or the Board’s Compensation and Organization Committee, to provide equity-based compensation in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, or SARs, restricted stock, restricted stock units, or RSUs, market share units, or MSUs, performance shares and units, and other cash and share-based awards for the purpose of providing our directors, officers and other employees incentives and rewards for performance. We may issue common shares upon option exercises and upon the vesting or grant of other awards under the LTIP from our authorized but unissued shares or from treasury shares.
	Our expense for share-based arrangements was $19 million in 2013, $17 million in 2012 and $21 million in 2011 and is included in selling and administrative expense in our consolidated statements of operations. No income tax benefits were recognized for share-based arrangements in the consolidated statements of operations in 2013, 2012 and 2011. We recognize expense on all share-based awards over the service period, which is the shorter of the period until the employees’ retirement eligibility dates or the service period of the award for awards expected to vest. Accordingly, expense is generally reduced for estimated forfeitures. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.
	STOCK OPTIONS
	We granted stock options in 2012 and 2011 with exercise prices set at the closing price of USG common stock on the date of grant. The stock options generally become exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning one year from the date of grant, although they may become exercisable earlier in the event of death, disability, retirement or a change in control. The stock options generally expire ten years from the date of grant, or earlier in the event of death, disability or retirement.
	We estimated the fair value of each stock option granted on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option valuation model that uses the assumptions noted in the following table. We based expected volatility on a 50% weighting of our historical volatilities and 50% weighting of implied USG volatilities. The risk-free rate was based on zero-coupon U.S. government issues at the time of grant. The expected term was developed using the simplified method, as permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission because there is not sufficient historical stock option exercise experience available.
	Assumptions:	2012		2011
	Expected volatility	59.03	%	55.88	%
	Risk-free rate	1.24	%	2.85	%
	Expected term (in years)	6.26		6.25
	Expected dividends	—		—
	A summary of stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and of stock option activity during the fiscal year then ended is presented below:
		Number of		Weighted			Weighted	Aggregate
		Options		Average			Average	Intrinsic
		0		Exercise			Remaining	Value
				Price			Contractual	(millions)
							Term (years)
	Outstanding at January 1, 2013	5,063		$	25.02		6.18	$	45
	Exercised	(377	)	10.34
	Canceled	(197	)	41.28
	Forfeited	—		—
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013	4,489		$	25.54		5.21	$	39
	Exercisable at December 31, 2013	3,602		$	27.98		5.51	$	28
	Vested or expected to vest at December 31, 2013	4,482		$	25.55		5.2	$	39
	The weighted average grant date fair value was $8.39 for options granted during 2012 and $10.60 for options granted during 2011.
	Intrinsic value for stock options is defined as the difference between the current market value of our common stock and the exercise price of the stock options. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised was $7 million in 2013, $7 million in 2012 and less than $1 million in 2011 and cash received from the exercise of stock options was $4 million in 2013, $4 million in 2012 and less than $1 million in 2011. As a result of the NOL we reported for federal tax purposes for 2013, 2012 and 2011, none of the excess tax benefit with respect to these exercises has been reflected in additional paid-in capital as of December 31, 2013. Included in our federal tax NOL carryforwards is $47 million for which a tax benefit of $17 million will be recorded in additional paid-in capital if the loss carryforward is utilized.
	As of December 31, 2013, there was $2 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation awards represented by stock options granted under the LTIP. We expect that cost to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.9 years. The total fair value of stock options vested was $10 million during 2013, $5 million during 2012 and $14 million during 2011.
	MARKET SHARE UNITS
	We granted market share units, or MSUs, during 2013. Generally, half of the MSUs vest after a two-year period and the other half after a three-year period, in each case, based on our actual stock price performance during such periods. The number of MSUs earned will vary from 0% to 150% of the number of MSUs awarded depending on the actual performance of our stock price. In the case of termination of employment due to death, disability or retirement during the performance period, vesting will be pro-rated based on the number of full months employed in 2013. Awards earned will be issued at the end of the two-year and three-year periods. MSUs may vest earlier in the case of a change in control. Each MSU earned will be settled in common stock.
	We estimated the fair value of each MSU granted on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo simulation that used the assumptions noted in the following table. Volatility was based on stock price history immediately prior to grant for a period commensurate with the expected term. The risk-free rate was based on zero-coupon U.S. government issues at the time of grant. The expected term represents the period from the valuation date to the end of the performance period.
	Assumptions:	2013
	Expected volatility	60.97	%
	Risk-free rate	0.35	%
	Expected term (in years)	2.38
	Expected dividends	—
	Nonvested MSUs outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and MSU activity during 2013 were as follows:
		Weighted		Weighted
		Number		Average
		of Shares		Grant Date
		0		Fair Value
	Nonvested at January 1, 2013	—		$	—
	Granted	361		34.55
	Vested	—		—
	Forfeited	(2	)	34.55
	Nonvested at December 31, 2013	359		34.55
	Total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation awards represented by MSUs granted under the LTIP was $2 million as of December 31, 2013. We expect that cost to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.6 years.
	RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
	We granted RSUs during 2013, 2012 and 2011. RSUs granted prior to 2013 generally vest in four equal annual installments beginning four years from the date of grant. RSUs granted as special retention awards, including those granted in 2013, generally vest after a specified number of years from the date of grant or at a specified date and RSUs granted with performance goals vest if those goals are attained. RSUs may vest earlier in the case of death, disability, retirement or a change in control. Each RSU is settled in a share of our common stock after the vesting period. The fair value of each RSU granted is equal to the closing market price of our common stock on the date of grant.
	In 2013, we granted RSUs as special retention awards with respect to 39,500 shares of common stock that vest in four years from the date of grant.
	RSUs outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and RSU activity during 2013 were as follows:
		Number		Weighted
		of Shares		Average
		0		Grant Date
				Fair Value
	Nonvested at January 1, 2013	1,249		$	14.74
	Granted	40		29.44
	Vested	(487	)	13.54
	Forfeited	(2	)	30.31
	Nonvested at December 31, 2013	800		16.15
	As of December 31, 2013, there was $4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation awards represented by RSUs granted under the LTIP. We expect that cost to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.0 years. The total fair value of RSUs that vested was $7 million during 2013, $13 million during 2012 and $5 million during 2011.
	PERFORMANCE SHARES
	We granted performance shares during 2013, 2012 and 2011. The performance shares generally vest after a period of three years based on our total stockholder return relative to the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Construction and Materials Index, with adjustments to that index in certain circumstances, for the three-year period. The number of performance shares earned will vary from 0% to 200% of the number of performance shares awarded depending on that relative performance. Vesting will be pro-rated based on the number of full months employed during the performance period in the case of death, disability, retirement or a change in control, and pro-rated awards earned will be paid at the end of the three-year period. Each performance share earned will be settled in common stock.
	We estimated the fair value of each performance share granted on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo simulation that uses the assumptions noted in the following table. Expected volatility is based on implied volatility of our traded options and the daily historical volatilities of our peer group. The risk-free rate was based on zero coupon U.S. government issues at the time of grant. The expected term represents the period from the grant date to the end of the three-year performance period.
Assumptions:	2013		2012		2011
Expected volatility	59.98	%	67.63	%	77.84	%
Risk-free rate	0.43	%	0.36	%	1.2	%
Expected term (in years)	2.88		2.89		2.89
Expected dividends	—		—		—
Nonvested performance shares outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and performance share activity during 2013 were as follows:
	Weighted		Weighted
	Number		Average
	of Shares		Grant Date
	0		Fair Value
Nonvested at January 1, 2013	360		$	25.29
Granted	105		38.89
Vested	(152	)	28.4
Forfeited	(5	)	26.1
Nonvested at December 31, 2013	308		28.36
With respect to the 227,539 performance shares granted in 2011, for which the three-year performance period ended December 31, 2013, 152,295 performance shares vested for approximately 202,857 common shares based on the level of total stockholder return attained relative to the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Construction and Materials Index, as adjusted. The remaining performance shares granted in 2011 were previously forfeited.
Total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation awards represented by performance shares granted under the LTIP was $4 million as of December 31, 2013. We expect that cost to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years.
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR DEFERRED STOCK UNITS
Our non-employee directors may elect to receive a portion of their compensation as deferred stock units that increase or decrease in value in direct relation to the market price of our common stock. Deferred stock units earned through December 31, 2007 will be paid in cash upon termination of board service. Deferred stock units earned thereafter will be paid in cash or shares of USG common stock, at the election of the director, upon termination of board service.
The number of deferred stock units held by non-employee directors was approximately 182,632 as of December 31, 2013, 172,124 as of December 31, 2012 and 163,627 as of December 31, 2011. We recorded expense related to these deferred stock units of $1 million in 2013, $3 million in 2012 and zero in 2011.

Supplemental_Balance_Sheet_Inf

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Supplemental Balance Sheet Information	'
	Supplemental Balance Sheet Information
	INVENTORIES
	Inventories as of December 31 consisted of the following:
	(millions)	2013				2012
	Finished goods and work in progress	$	270			$	245
	Raw materials	62				59
	Total	$	332			$	304
	PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
	Property, plant and equipment as of December 31 consisted of the following:
	(millions)	2013				2012
	Land and mineral deposits	$	181			$	151
	Buildings and improvements	1,139				1,132
	Machinery and equipment	2,623				2,555
		3,943				3,838
	Reserves for depreciation and depletion	(1,840		)		(1,738		)
	Total	$	2,103			$	2,100
	Annual depreciation and depletion expense	$	135			$	136
	ACCRUED EXPENSES
	Accrued expenses as of December 31 consisted of the following:
	(millions)	2013				2012
	Self-insurance reserves	$	22			$	25
	Employee compensation	58				71
	Interest	48				47
	Restructuring	3				8
	Derivatives	—				2
	Pension and other postretirement benefits	14				16
	Environmental	18				14
	Other	53				54
	Total	$	216			$	237
	ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
	Changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), or AOCI, are summarized in the following table:
	(millions)	Derivatives				Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans			Foreign			Total AOCI
									Currency Translation
	Balance as of December 31, 2010	$	8			$	(106	)	$	48		$	(50	)
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	—				(117		)	(29		)	(146		)
	Less: Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	(20		)		(2		)	—			(22		)
	Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	20				(115		)	(29		)	(124		)
	Balance as of December 31, 2011	$	28			$	(221	)	$	19		$	(174	)
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(5		)		(81		)	22			(64		)
	Less: Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	(9		)		1			3			(5		)
	Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	4				(82		)	19			(59		)
	Balance as of December 31, 2012	$	32			$	(303	)	$	38		$	(233	)
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	4				247			(17		)	234
	Less: Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax (a)	1				(24		)	—			(23		)
	Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	3				271			(17		)	257
	Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	35			$	(32	)	$	21		$	24
	(a) The following table shows the components of the amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax:
					2013
		Derivatives
		Net reclassification from AOCI for cash flow hedges included in cost of products sold			$	(1	)
		Income tax expense on reclassification from AOCI included in income tax expense (benefit)			—
		Net amount reclassified from AOCI			$	(1	)
		Defined Benefit Plans
		Net reclassification from AOCI for amortization of prior service cost included in cost of products sold			$	19
		Net reclassification from AOCI for amortization of prior service cost included in selling and administrative expenses			7
		Income tax benefit on reclassification from AOCI included in income tax expense (benefit)			(2		)
		Net amount reclassified from AOCI			$	24
	We estimate that we will reclassify a net $1 million after-tax gain on derivatives from AOCI to earnings within the next 12 months.
	ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
	Changes in our liability for asset retirement obligations during 2013 and 2012 consisted of the following:
	(millions)	2013				2012
	Balance as of January 1	$	139			$	114
	Accretion expense	8				10
Liabilities incurred	3				3
Changes in estimated cash flows (a)	(11		)		17
Liabilities settled	(4		)		(5		)
Foreign currency translation	(3		)		—
Balance as of December 31	$	132			$	139
(a) Changes in estimated cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2012 include $7 million resulting from a change in estimate related to reclamation activities for our gypsum quarry and ship loading facility in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada which we permanently closed during the third quarter of 2011.
Our asset retirement obligations include reclamation requirements as regulated by government authorities related principally to assets such as our mines, quarries, landfills, ponds and wells. The accounting for asset retirement obligations requires estimates by management about the timing of asset retirements, the cost of retirement obligations, discount and inflation rates used in determining fair values and the methods of remediation associated with our asset retirement obligations. We generally use assumptions and estimates that reflect the most likely remediation method on a site-by-site basis. Our estimated liability for asset retirement obligations is revised annually, and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that a revision to the estimate is necessary.
In instances where a decrease in the asset retirement obligation is in excess of the related remaining net book value of the asset retirement costs, the excess is recorded to the consolidated statement of operations as a reduction in cost of products sold. Asset retirement obligations are included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

Restructuring_and_LongLived_As

Restructuring and Long-Lived Asset Impairment Charges	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Restructuring and Long-Lived Asset Impairment Charges	'
	Restructuring and Long-Lived Asset Impairment Charges
	As part of our continuing efforts to adapt our operations to market conditions, we implemented restructuring activities in 2013, 2012 and 2011 that resulted in the following restructuring and long-lived asset impairment charges:
	(millions)	2013			2012			2011
	Long-lived asset impairment charges related to:
	Permanently closed gypsum quarry and ship loading facility *	$	—		$	7		$	53
	Other	—			1			—
	Total long-lived asset impairment charges	—			8			53
	Asset impairment charges related to receivables and inventory	—			—			2
	Severance	2			6			7
	Lease obligations	(1		)	—			4
	Other exit costs	2			4			9
	Total	$	3		$	18		$	75
	*	During the fourth quarter of 2012, as a result of a change in estimate related to reclamation activities, we increased the related asset retirement obligation by $7 million with a corresponding increase to the long-lived assets at this facility. Consequently, we recorded a long-lived asset impairment charge of $7 million to write the assets down to their fair value of $6 million. See Note 11. The 2011 charges include $42 million related to the write-down of the carrying values of long-lived assets at this facility and $11 million related to the acceleration of the facility’s asset retirement obligation.
	2013
	Total charges of $3 million primarily consisted of severance related to various cost-reduction programs, including our December 2012 management workforce reduction and salaried workforce reductions across various functional areas resulting from our initiatives to centralize and consolidate certain back-office operations as well as other exit costs. See Note 13 for restructuring charges by segment.
	2012
	Total charges of $18 million primarily related to the permanent closure of our gypsum quarry and ship loading facility in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada and salaried workforce reductions. As a result of these actions, the number of salaried employees terminated and open salaried positions eliminated was approximately 90 and the number of hourly employees terminated and open hourly positions eliminated was approximately 40.
	2011
	Total charges of $75 million primarily related to the permanent closure of our gypsum quarry and ship loading facility in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada, L&W Supply Corporation's closure of nine distribution branches and its Nevada custom door and frames business and a salaried workforce reduction. As a result of these actions, the number of salaried employees terminated and open salaried positions eliminated was approximately 115 and the number of hourly employees terminated and open hourly positions eliminated was approximately 90.
	Restructuring Reserve
	A restructuring reserve of $11 million was included in accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2013. We expect future payments to be approximately $3 million in 2014, $3 million in 2015 and $5 million after 2015. On a segment basis, $1 million of all expected future payments relate to North American Gypsum, $8 million to Building Products Distribution and $2 million to Corporate. All restructuring-related payments were funded with cash on hand. We expect that the future payments will be funded with cash from operations or cash on hand.
	The restructuring reserve, and long-lived asset impairment charges, for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 is summarized as follows:
		Balance			Annual Activity									Balance
		as of												as of
	(millions)	January 1			Charges			Cash			Asset			December 31
								Payments			Impairment
	2013 Activity:
	Severance	$	5		$	2		$	(6	)	$	—		$	1
	Lease obligations	15			(1		)	(4		)	—			10
	Other exit costs	—			2			(2		)	—			—
	Total	$	20		$	3		$	(12	)	$	—		$	11
	2012 Activity:
	Severance	$	4		$	6		$	(5	)	$	—		$	5
	Lease obligations	21			—			(6		)	—			15
	Asset impairments	—			8			—			(8		)	—
	Other exit costs	9			4			(13		)	—			—
	Total	$	34		$	18		$	(24	)	$	(8	)	$	20
	2011 Activity:
	Severance	$	11		$	7		$	(14	)	$	—		$	4
	Lease obligations	29			4			(12		)	—			21
	Asset impairments	—			55			—			(55		)	—
	Other exit costs	9			9			(9		)	—			9
	Total	$	49		$	75		$	(35	)	$	(55	)	$	34

Segments

Segments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segments	'
	Segments
	REPORTABLE SEGMENTS
		For the year ended December 31,
	(millions)	2013			2012			2011
	Net Sales:
	North American Gypsum	$	2,249		$	1,963		$	1,695
	Worldwide Ceilings	625			600			583
	Building Products Distribution	1,245			1,145			1,060
	Eliminations	(549		)	(484		)	(428		)
	Total	$	3,570		$	3,224		$	2,910
	Operating Profit (Loss):
	North American Gypsum	$	264		$	115		$	(136	)
	Worldwide Ceilings	94			83			82
	Building Products Distribution	6			(33		)	(68		)
	Corporate	(92		)	(83		)	(80		)
	Eliminations	(14		)	(9		)	(4		)
	Total	$	258		$	73		$	(206	)
	Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:
	North American Gypsum	$	114		$	113		$	120
	Worldwide Ceilings	15			15			15
	Building Products Distribution	12			12			12
	Corporate	14			16			17
	Total	$	155		$	156		$	164
	Capital Expenditures:
	North American Gypsum	$	66		$	50		$	45
	Worldwide Ceilings	54			14			5
	Building Products Distribution	3			5			3
	Corporate	1			1			1
	Total	$	124		$	70		$	54
	Assets:	December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012			December 31, 2011
	North American Gypsum	$	2,910		$	2,926		$	2,946
	Worldwide Ceilings	521			389			347
	Building Products Distribution	405			369			366
	Corporate	376			105			73
	Assets related to discontinued operations	—			—			35
	Eliminations	(91		)	(66		)	(48		)
	Total	$	4,121		$	3,723		$	3,719
	GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
		For the year ended December 31,
	(millions)	2013			2012			2011
	Net Sales:
	United States	$	3,029		$	2,702		$	2,437
	Canada	417			408			383
	Other Foreign	309			288			246
	Geographic transfers	(185		)	(174		)	(156		)
	Total	$	3,570		$	3,224		$	2,910
	Long-lived assets, consisting of property, plant and equipment, net, by geographic location were as follows:
	(millions)				December 31,			December 31,
					2013			2012
	Long-Lived Assets:
	United States				$	1,691		$	1,721
	Canada				128			135
	Other Foreign				284			244
	Total				$	2,103		$	2,100
	In previous filings, long-lived assets by geographic location consisted of property, plant and equipment, net and other assets. The prior year presentation in the table above has been adjusted to conform to the current year presentation.
	OTHER SEGMENT INFORMATION
	Segment operating profit (loss) includes all costs and expenses directly related to the segment involved and an allocation of expenses that benefit more than one segment.
	Restructuring and long-lived asset impairment charges by segment were as follows:
	(millions)	2013			2012			2011
	North American Gypsum	$	3		$	15		$	67
	Worldwide Ceilings	—			1			—
	Building Products Distribution	(1		)	—			7
	Corporate	1			2			1
Total	$	3		$	18		$	75
See Note 12 for additional information regarding restructuring and long-lived asset impairment charges.
Revenues are attributed to geographic areas based on the location of the assets producing the revenues. Transactions between reportable segments and geographic areas are accounted for at transfer prices that are approximately equal to market value. Intercompany transfers between segments (shown above as eliminations) largely reflect intercompany sales from U.S. Gypsum to L&W Supply. Geographic transfers largely reflect intercompany sales from U.S. Gypsum and USG Interiors, LLC to CGC and USG Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
On a worldwide basis, The Home Depot, Inc. accounted for approximately 15% of our consolidated net sales in each of 2013, 2012 and 2011. All three reportable segments had net sales to The Home Depot, Inc. in each of those years.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes consisted of the following:
	(millions)	2013			2012			2011
	U.S.	$	17		$	(198	)	$	(367	)
	Foreign	42			28			(43		)
	Total	$	59		$	(170	)	$	(410	)
	Income tax expense (benefit) on continuing operations consisted of the following:
	(millions)	2013			2012			2011
	Current:
	Federal	$	—		$	—		$	(5	)
	Foreign	10			8			1
	State	1			—			—
		11			8			(4		)
	Deferred:
	Federal	(2		)	3			—
	Foreign	2			1			(11		)
	State	—			—			1
		—			4			(10		)
	Total (a)	$	11		$	12		$	(14	)
	(a)	Income tax expense (benefit) on continuing operations includes a noncash increase (decrease) in the deferred tax asset valuation allowances of $(8) million in 2013, $76 million in 2012 and $149 million in 2011.
	For our continuing operations, differences between actual provisions for income taxes and provisions for income taxes at the U.S. federal statutory rate (35%) were as follows:
	(millions)	2013			2012			2011
	Taxes on income (loss) from continuing operations at U.S. federal statutory rate	$	21		$	(60	)	$	(143	)
	Foreign earnings subject to different tax rates	(6		)	(5		)	5
	State income tax, net of federal benefit	1			(6		)	(18		)
	Change in valuation allowance	(8		)	76			149
	Change in unrecognized tax benefits	—			—			(7		)
	Withholding taxes on dividends between foreign entities	6			—			—
	Other, net	(3		)	7			—
	Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	$	11		$	12		$	(14	)
	Effective income tax rate	18.6		%	(7.1		)%	3.4		%
	Significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31 were as follows:
	(millions)	2013			2012
	Deferred Tax Assets:
	Net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards	$	1,043		$	1,066
	Pension and postretirement benefits	110			226
	Goodwill and other intangible assets	33			36
	Reserves not deductible until paid	31			33
	Self insurance	15			12
	Capitalized interest	12			13
	Inventories	8			8
	Share-based compensation	35			32
	Deferred tax assets before valuation allowance	1,287			1,426
	Valuation allowance	(995		)	(1,125		)
	Total deferred tax assets	$	292		$	301
	Deferred Tax Liabilities:
	Property, plant and equipment	290			285
	Other	(1		)	3
	Total deferred tax liabilities	289			288
	Net deferred tax assets	$	3		$	13
	We have established a valuation allowance in the amount of $995 million consisting of $735 million for federal deferred tax assets, $256 million for state deferred tax assets and $4 million for foreign deferred tax assets.
	We reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets by a valuation allowance if, based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized. The need to establish valuation allowances for deferred tax assets is assessed periodically. In assessing the requirement for, and amount of, a valuation allowance in accordance with the more-likely-than-not standard, we give appropriate consideration to all positive and negative evidence related to the realization of the deferred tax assets. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, our experience with operating loss and tax credit carryforwards not expiring unused and tax planning alternatives. A history of cumulative losses for a certain threshold period is a significant form of negative evidence used in our assessment. Consistent with practices in the home building and related industries, we have a policy of four years as our threshold period for cumulative losses. If a cumulative loss threshold is met, forecasts of future profitability are not used as positive evidence related to the realization of the deferred tax assets in the assessment.
	As of December 31, 2013, we had federal NOL carryforwards of approximately $2.067 billion that are available to offset future federal taxable income and will expire in the years 2026 through 2033. In addition, as of that date, we had federal alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards of approximately $45 million that are available to reduce future regular federal income taxes over an indefinite period. In order to fully realize the U.S. federal net deferred tax assets, taxable income of approximately $2.197 billion would need to be generated during the period before their expiration. In addition, we have federal foreign tax credit carryforwards of $8 million that will expire in 2015.
	As of December 31, 2013, we had a gross deferred tax asset of $270 million related to state NOLs and tax credit carryforwards, of which $11 million will expire in 2014. The remainder will expire if unused in years 2015 through 2033. To the extent that we do not generate sufficient state taxable income within the statutory carryforward periods to utilize the NOL and tax credit carryforwards in these states, they will expire unused.
	We also had NOL and tax credit carryforwards in various foreign jurisdictions in the amount of $2 million and $1 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, against a portion of which we have historically maintained a valuation allowance.
	During periods prior to 2013, we established a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets totaling $1.125 billion. Based upon an evaluation of all available evidence, we recorded a decrease in the valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets of $130 million in 2013. The decrease related to discrete items is $125 million, including a decrease in the deferred tax assets for pension and state net operating losses, and the remaining decrease of $5 million is related to current year earnings. As a result, our deferred tax assets valuation allowance is $995 million as of December 31, 2013. In future periods, the valuation allowance can be reversed based on sufficient evidence indicating that it is more likely than not that a portion of our deferred tax assets will be realized. Our net deferred tax assets were $3 million as of December 31, 2013 and $13 million as of December 31, 2012.
	The Internal Revenue Code imposes limitations on a corporation’s ability to utilize NOLs if it experiences an “ownership change.” In general terms, an ownership change may result from transactions increasing the ownership of certain stockholders in the stock of a corporation by more than 50 percentage points over a three-year period. If we were to experience an ownership change, utilization of our NOLs would be subject to an annual limitation determined by multiplying the market value of our outstanding shares of stock at the time of the ownership change by the applicable long-term tax-exempt rate, which was 3.50% for December 2013. Any unused annual limitation may be carried over to later years within the allowed NOL carryforward period. The amount of the limitation may, under certain circumstances, be increased or decreased by built-in gains or losses held by us at the time of the change that are recognized in the five-year period after the change. Many states have similar limitations. If an ownership change had occurred as of December 31, 2013, our annual U.S. federal NOL utilization would have been limited to approximately $136 million per year.
	A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
	(millions)	2013			2012			2011
	Balance as of January 1	$	16		$	12		$	34
	Tax positions related to the current period:
	Gross increase	4			2			—
	Gross decrease	—			—			—
Tax positions related to prior periods:
Gross increase	2			5			2
Gross decrease	—			—			(20		)
Settlements	—			(3		)	(3		)
Lapse of statutes of limitations	—			—			(1		)
Balance as of December 31	$	22		$	16		$	12
We classify interest expense and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits and interest income on tax overpayments as components of income taxes (benefit). The total amounts of interest expense and penalties recognized on our consolidated balance sheets were $2 million and $1 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012. The total amounts of interest and penalties recognized in our consolidated statements of operations was zero in 2013, $1 million for 2012 and $(1) million for 2011. The total amounts of unrecognized tax benefit that, if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate were $7 million for 2013, $7 million for 2012 and $8 million for 2011.
Our federal income tax returns for 2008 and prior years have been examined by the Internal Revenue Service. The U.S. federal statute of limitations remains open for the year 2006 and later years. We are under examination in various U.S. state and foreign jurisdictions. It is possible that these examinations may be resolved within the next 12 months. Due to the potential for resolution of the examinations and the expiration of various statutes of limitations, it is reasonably possible that our gross unrecognized tax benefit may change within the next 12 months by a range of $0 million to $4 million. Foreign and U.S. state jurisdictions have statutes of limitations generally ranging from three to five years.
We do not provide for U.S. income taxes on the portion of undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries that is intended to be permanently reinvested. The cumulative amount of such undistributed earnings totaled approximately $642 million as of December 31, 2013. These earnings would become taxable in the United States upon the sale or liquidation of these foreign subsidiaries or upon the remittance of dividends. The estimate of the amount of the deferred tax liability on such earnings is $26 million, consisting of foreign withholding taxes.

Earnings_Loss_Per_Share

Earnings (Loss) Per Share	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings (Loss) Per Share	'
	Earnings (Loss) Per Share
	The reconciliation of basic income (loss) per share to diluted income (loss) per share is shown in the following table:
	(millions, except per-share data)	2013				2012			2011
	Income (loss) from continuing operations	$	48			$	(182	)	$	(396	)
	Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1		)		1			$	—
	Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to USG	$	49			$	(183	)	$	(396	)
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(2		)		2			6
	Gain on sale of discontinued operations	—				55			—
	Net income (loss) attributable to USG	$	47			$	(126	)	$	(390	)
	Average common shares	108.9				106.4			103.9
	Average diluted common shares	111.4				106.4			103.9
	Basic earnings (loss) per average common share:
	Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to USG	$	0.45			$	(1.72	)	$	(3.81	)
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(0.02		)		0.53			0.05
	Net income (loss) attributable to USG	$	0.43			$	(1.19	)	$	(3.76	)
	Diluted earnings (loss) per average common share:
	Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to USG	$	0.44			$	(1.72	)	$	(3.81	)
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(0.02		)		0.53			0.05
	Net income (loss) attributable to USG	$	0.42			$	(1.19	)	$	(3.76	)
	The diluted losses per share in 2012 and 2011 were computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year.
	Stock options, RSUs, MSUs, performance shares and common shares issuable upon conversion of our 10% convertible senior notes that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings (loss) per share for those periods because their inclusion was anti-dilutive were as follows:
	(millions, common shares)	2013			2012			2011
	Stock options, RSUs, MSUs and performance shares	2.2			7.9			6.9
	10% convertible senior notes due 2018 (a)	6.6			35.1			35.1
	(a)	In December 2013, we converted $325 million of our 10% convertible senior notes due 2018 into common shares. See further discussion in Note 6.

Oman_Investment

Oman Investment	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Oman Investment	'
	Oman Investment
	In June of 2012, we entered into a strategic partnership with the Zawawi Group in Oman to establish a mining operation by acquiring 55% of Zawawi Gypsum LLC, or ZGL, which holds the mining rights to a gypsum quarry in Salalah, Oman, for $16 million, including transaction costs. ZGL is developing the infrastructure and operating the quarry. Quarry mining operations commenced in October 2013.
	The second phase of the partnership is a 50/50 manufacturing venture, USG-Zawawi Drywall LLC, or ZDL, with Zawawi Minerals LLC to build and operate a low cost wallboard plant in Oman. The plant site is in close proximity to the gypsum quarry and port facilities, facilitating access into markets in India and the Middle East. We expect to commence wallboard production operations in the third quarter of 2014.
	We accounted for the acquisition of the mining rights as an asset acquisition and measured our interest in the mining rights at our cost. The mining rights will be depleted based upon tonnage mined relative to the total probable capacity in the quarry, and are presented within total property, plant and equipment in our consolidated balance sheets.
	We determined that both entities are variable interest entities (VIEs). We believe that we direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIEs through our appointment of the general manager, who oversees both ventures and whose responsibilities include developing infrastructure, operating the quarry and directing the entity's product development and pricing strategies.  As such, we consolidate the VIEs and, in June 2012, in conjunction with the acquisition of the mining rights, we established a 45% noncontrolling interest of $13 million within stockholders' equity based upon the fair value of the mining rights, with a corresponding increase to the mining rights. There was no gain or loss recognized upon the initial consolidation of the mining VIE.
	In January of 2013, under our strategic partnership agreement, we paid an additional $17 million to obtain additional mining rights. Concurrently, our joint venture partner who holds the noncontrolling interest contributed its share of the mining rights. Based upon the fair value of the mining rights, the noncontrolling interest within stockholders' equity increased by $13 million and the mining rights, reflected within property, plant and equipment, increased by $30 million.
	During 2013, our joint venture partner provided loans of approximately $3 million to ZDL, which are included in other liabilities in our accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2013. Including these loans, and loans made in 2012 to ZDL and ZGL, other liabilities includes, in the aggregate, loans payable and the related accrued interest of approximately $8 million and $4 million as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.
	During 2013, we provided loans of approximately $3 million to ZDL. Including these loans, we have provided $5 million of loans to ZDL and $3 million of loans to ZGL. Loans we make to these ventures are not reflected on our accompanying consolidated balance sheets because they are eliminated in consolidation.
	See Note 6 for a description of the credit facilities entered into by our joint ventures in Oman in June 2013.
	See Note 21 for a description of our investment in the USG Boral Joint Venture on February 27, 2014. As part of the consideration for the transaction, we contributed to the USG Boral Joint Venture our investment in our Oman joint ventures.

Stockholder_Rights_Plan

Stockholder Rights Plan	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Stockholder Rights Plan	'
	Stockholder Rights Plan
	We have a stockholder rights plan, or the Rights Plan, established under the terms of a rights agreement dated December 21, 2006, as amended, with Computershare Trust Company N.A., as Rights Agent, or the Rights Agreement. Our board of directors adopted the Rights Plan to protect our stockholders from coercive takeover practices or takeover bids that are inconsistent with their best interests.
	On March 22, 2013, our board of directors approved an amendment to the Rights Agreement in an effort to protect our NOL carryforwards during the effective period of the amendment. Under this amendment, if any person becomes the beneficial owner of 4.9% or more of our common stock, stockholders other than the 4.9% triggering stockholder will have the right to purchase additional shares of our common stock at half the market price, thereby diluting the triggering stockholder; provided that stockholders whose beneficial ownership exceeded 4.9% of our common stock outstanding on March 22, 2013 will not be deemed to have triggered the Rights Agreement, as amended, so long as they do not thereafter acquire additional common stock other than in certain specified exempt transactions. In addition, a person generally will not be deemed to have triggered the Rights Agreement, as amended, by virtue of the conversion of our convertible notes.
	The amendment to the Rights Agreement is effective until the earlier of (i) March 22, 2016, (ii) the date on which our board of directors determines that the amendment is no longer necessary for the provision of certain tax benefits because of the repeal of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, or Code, (iii) the first day of a taxable year as to which our board of directors determines that no tax benefits may be carried forward, or (iv) such other date as our board of directors determines that the amendment is no longer necessary for the preservation of tax benefits. Upon expiration of the amendment to the Rights Agreement, the triggering threshold level under the Rights Plan will revert to the 15% level in effect prior to the amendment, unless our board of directors determines otherwise. Our stockholders ratified, on an advisory basis, the amendment to the Rights Agreement at our 2013 annual meeting of stockholders.
	Prior to the adoption of the amendments to the Rights Agreement described above, under the Rights Plan, if any person or group were to acquire beneficial ownership of 15% or more of our then-outstanding voting stock, stockholders other than the 15% triggering stockholder would have had the right to purchase additional shares of our common stock at half the market price, thereby diluting the triggering stockholder. The Rights Agreement also provides that Berkshire Hathaway (and certain of its affiliates) will not trigger the rights unless Berkshire Hathaway and its affiliates acquire beneficial ownership of more than 50% of our voting stock on a fully diluted basis.
	The rights issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement will expire on January 2, 2017. However, our board of directors has the power to accelerate or extend the expiration date of the rights. In addition, a board committee composed solely of independent directors reviews the Rights Agreement at least once every three years to determine whether to modify the Rights Plan in light of all relevant factors. This review was most recently conducted in November 2012. The next review is required by the end of 2015.
	On May 9, 2013, we filed an amendment to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, or the Protective Amendment, that restricts certain transfers of our common stock. The Protective Amendment is intended to protect the tax benefits of our NOL carryforwards. See Note 14 for a description of our NOL carryforwards. Subject to certain limited exceptions, the Protective Amendment's transfer restrictions would restrict any person from transferring our common stock (or any interest in our common stock) if the transfer would result in a stockholder (or several stockholders, in the aggregate, who hold their stock as a “group” under Section 382 of the Code) owning 4.9% or more of our common stock. Any direct or indirect transfer attempted in violation of the Protective Amendment would be void as of the date of the prohibited transfer as to the purported transferee, and the purported transferee would not be recognized as the owner of the shares attempted to be owned in violation of the Protective Amendment for any purpose, including for purposes of voting and receiving dividends or other distributions in respect of that common stock, or in the case of options, receiving our common stock in respect of their exercise. The Protective Amendment is effective until the earlier of (i) May 9, 2016, (ii) the repeal of Section 382 of the Code if our board of directors determines that the Protective Amendment is no longer necessary for the preservation of tax benefits, (iii) the first day of a taxable year as to which our board of directors determines that no tax benefits may be carried forward, or (iv) such other date as determined by our board of directors pursuant to the Protective Amendment.

Lease_Commitments

Lease Commitments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Lease Commitments [Abstract]	'
Leases of Lessee Disclosure	'
	Lease Commitments
	We lease some of our offices, buildings, machinery and equipment, and autos under noncancelable operating leases. These leases have various terms and renewal options. Lease expense amounted to $73 million in 2013, $73 million in 2012 and $79 million in 2011. Future minimum lease payments required under operating leases with initial or remaining noncancelable terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2013 were as follows:
	(millions)	2014		2015		2016		2017		2018		After 2018
	Future minimum lease payments	$	60	$	52	$	42	$	37	$	27	$	65

Litigation

Litigation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Litigation	'
	Litigation
	CHINESE-MANUFACTURED DRYWALL LAWSUITS
	L&W Supply Corporation is one of many defendants in lawsuits relating to Chinese-made wallboard installed in homes primarily in the southeastern United States during 2006 and 2007. Most of the lawsuits are part of the multi-district class action litigation titled In re Chinese-Manufactured Drywall Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2047, pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
	The vast majority of the claims against L&W Supply Corporation relate to wallboard we delivered that was manufactured by Knauf Plasterboard (Tianjin) Co., or Knauf Tianjin, an affiliate of a multi-national manufacturer of building materials that also beneficially owns approximately 11% of USG's outstanding shares of common stock. We have reached settlement agreements with Knauf and the plaintiffs in the multi-district class action litigation that cap our responsibility for all claims against us for homes to which we delivered Knauf Tianjin wallboard.
	As of December 31, 2013, we have an accrual of $6 million for our estimated cost of resolving all Chinese wallboard property damage claims pending against us and expected to be asserted in the future, and, based on the terms of our settlement with Knauf, we have a related receivable of $2 million recorded as an offset to the accrual. Our accrual does not take into account litigation costs, which are expensed as incurred, or any set-off for potential insurance recoveries. Based on the information available to us to date regarding the number and type of pending claims, estimates of likely future claims, and the estimated costs of resolving those claims, we believe that we have appropriately accrued for our exposure related to the Chinese wallboard claims, and we believe that these claims and other similar claims that might be asserted will not have a material effect on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
	WALLBOARD PRICING CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS
	In late 2012, USG Corporation and United States Gypsum Company were named as defendants in putative class action lawsuits alleging that since at least September 2011, U.S. wallboard manufacturers conspired to fix and raise the price of gypsum wallboard sold in the United States and to effectuate the alleged conspiracy by ending the practice of providing job quotes on wallboard. These lawsuits are consolidated for pretrial proceedings in multi-district litigation in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, under the title In re: Domestic Drywall Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 2437. One group of plaintiffs in the litigation purports to represent a class of entities that purchased gypsum wallboard in the United States directly from any of the defendants or their affiliates from January 1, 2012 to the present. On behalf of this alleged direct purchaser class, the plaintiffs seek unspecified monetary damages, tripled under the antitrust laws, as well as pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interest and attorneys' fees. The second group of plaintiffs purports to bring their claims and seek damages on behalf of indirect purchasers of gypsum wallboard. These indirect purchaser plaintiffs seek to certify a separate class of persons or entities who from January 1, 2012 through the present indirectly purchased wallboard in the United States from the defendants or their affiliates for end use and not for resale. Recently, similar lawsuits were filed in Quebec and Ontario courts on behalf of purchasers of wallboard in Canada. These Canadian lawsuits also name as defendants CGC Inc., a subsidiary of USG Corporation, as well as other Canadian and U.S. wallboard manufacturers.
	USG has denied the allegations made in these wallboard pricing lawsuits. The lawsuits are still in a preliminary stage involving the production of documents from all of the parties to the litigation, and the plaintiffs have not indicated the amount of damages that they seek. At this stage of the lawsuits, we are not able to estimate the amount, if any, of any reasonably possible loss or range of reasonably possible losses. However, based on the information known to us, we believe these lawsuits will not have a material effect on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
	ENVIRONMENTAL LITIGATION
	We have been notified by state and federal environmental protection agencies of possible involvement as one of numerous “potentially responsible parties” in a number of Superfund sites in the United States. As a potentially responsible party, we may be responsible to pay for some part of the cleanup of hazardous waste at those sites. In most of these sites, our involvement is expected to be minimal. In addition, we are involved in environmental cleanups of other property that we own or owned. As of December 31, 2013, we have an accrual of $18 million for our probable and reasonably estimable liability in connection with these matters. As of December 31, 2012, we had an accrual of $14 million related to these matters. Our accruals take into account all known or estimated undiscounted costs associated with these sites, including site investigations and feasibility costs, site cleanup and remediation, certain legal costs, and fines and penalties, if any. However, we continue to review these accruals as additional information becomes available and revise them as appropriate. Based on the information known to us, we believe these environmental matters will not have a material effect on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
	OTHER LITIGATION
	We are named as defendants in other claims and lawsuits arising from our operations, including claims and lawsuits arising from the operation of our vehicles, product warranties, personal injury and commercial disputes. We believe that we have properly accrued for our probable liability in connection with these claims and suits, taking into account the probability of liability, whether our exposure can be reasonably estimated and, if so, our estimate of our liability or the range of our liability. We do not expect these or any other litigation matters involving USG to have a material effect on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

Quarterly_Financial_Informatio

Quarterly Financial Information (unaudited)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)	'
	Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)
		Quarter
	(millions, except share data)	First			Second			Third			Fourth
	2013
	Net sales	$	814		$	916		$	925		$	915
	Gross profit	124			151			155			151			(b)
	Operating profit	49			74			75			60			(b)
	Income (loss) from continuing operations	2			25			24			(3		)	(b)
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	—			—			(1		)	(1		)
	Net income (loss) attributable to USG	2			25			23			(3		)	(b)
	Income (loss) from continuing operations per common share:
	Basic (a)	0.02			0.23			0.23			(0.02		)
	Diluted (a)	0.02			0.22			0.22			(0.02		)
	2012
	Net sales	$	783		$	798		$	828		$	815
	Gross profit	102			102			106			85
	Operating profit (loss)	24			28			29			(8		)	(c)
	Loss from continuing operations	(29		)	(59		)	(30		)	(64		)	(c)
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	2			2			1			(3		)
	Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	—			—			—			55
	Net loss attributable to USG	(27		)	(57		)	(29		)	(13		)	(c)
	Loss from continuing operations per common share:
	Basic (a)	(0.28		)	(0.55		)	(0.29		)	(0.59		)
	Diluted (a)	(0.28		)	(0.55		)	(0.29		)	(0.59		)
	(a)	The sum of the four quarters is not necessarily the same as the total for the year.
	(b)	Gross profit, operating profit, income from continuing operations and net income attributable to USG for the fourth quarter of 2013 included $16 million of pension settlement charges.
	(c)	Operating loss, loss from continuing operations and net loss attributable to USG for the fourth quarter of 2012 included restructuring and long-lived asset impairment charges of $13 million pretax ($11 million after-tax).

Schedule_II_Valuation_and_Qual

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure	'
				Additions
	(millions)	Balance at beginning of period		Charged to costs and expenses			Charged to other accounts		Deductions (a)			Balance at end of period
	Year ended December 31, 2013:
	Doubtful accounts	$	14	$	—		$	1	$	(5	)	$	10
	Cash discounts	2		42			—		(42		)	2
	Income tax valuation allowance	1,125		(2		)	—		(128		)	995
	Year ended December 31, 2012:
	Doubtful accounts	15		7			—		(8		)	14
	Cash discounts	2		38			—		(38		)	2
	Income tax valuation allowance	1,042		1			82		—			1,125
	Year ended December 31, 2011:
	Doubtful accounts	14		9			—		(8		)	15
	Cash discounts	2		33			—		(33		)	2
	Income tax valuation allowance	884		—			158		—			1,042
	(a)	Reflects receivables written off as related to doubtful accounts, discounts allowed as related to cash discounts and reductions in the income tax valuation allowance.

Subsequent_Event_Subsequent_Ev

Subsequent Event Subsequent Event	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Subsequent Events [Abstract]	'
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	'
	Subsequent Event
	On February 27, 2014, we and certain of our subsidiaries formed a 50/50 joint venture (the "USG Boral Joint Venture") with Boral Limited ("Boral") and certain of its subsidiaries. The USG Boral Joint Venture manufactures, distributes and sells certain building products, mines raw gypsum and sells natural and synthetic gypsum throughout Asia, Australasia and the Middle East (the "Territory"). The products that USG and Boral manufacture and distribute through the USG Boral Joint Venture include products for wall, ceiling, floor lining and exterior systems that utilize gypsum, wallboard, mineral fiber ceiling tiles, steel grid and studs, joint compound and other products.
	As consideration for our 50% ownership in the USG Boral Joint Venture, we made a $513 million cash payment to Boral, which includes a $500 million base price and $13 million of customary estimated working capital and net debt adjustments, contributed to the USG Boral Joint Venture our subsidiaries and joint venture investments in China, Singapore, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia and the Middle East, including our joint ventures in Oman, and granted to the USG Boral Joint Venture a license to use certain of our intellectual property rights in the Territory. We funded our cash payment with the net proceeds from our October 2013 issuance of $350 million of 5.875% senior notes and cash on hand. In the event certain performance targets are satisfied by the USG Boral Joint Venture, we will be obligated to pay Boral scheduled earnout payments in an aggregate amount up to $75 million, comprised of $25 million based on performance during the first three years after closing and up to $50 million based on performance during the first five years after closing. The cash portion of the consideration paid to Boral is subject to customary post-closing adjustments.
	Our investment in the USG Boral Joint Venture will be accounted for as an equity method investment and initially measured at cost. Our existing wholly owned subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities that were contributed into the joint venture will be deconsolidated.

Significant_Accounting_Policie1

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Nature of Operations	'
	Nature of Operations
	USG, through its subsidiaries, is a leading manufacturer and distributor of building materials. We produce a wide range of products for use in new residential, new nonresidential, and residential and nonresidential repair and remodel construction as well as products used in certain industrial processes. Our products also are distributed through building materials dealers, home improvement centers and other retailers, specialty wallboard distributors, and contractors.
Segments	'
	Segments
	Our operations are organized into three reportable segments: North American Gypsum, Worldwide Ceilings and Building Products Distribution. Our determination of the reportable segments was made on the basis of our strategic business units and the commonalities among the products within each segment, and corresponds to the manner in which management reviews and evaluates operating performance. Certain similar operating segments that meet applicable aggregation criteria have been combined.
	North American Gypsum manufactures SHEETROCK® brand gypsum wallboard and related products. Worldwide Ceilings manufactures ceiling tile in the United States and ceiling grid in the United States, Canada and the Asia-Pacific region. Building Products Distribution distributes gypsum wallboard, drywall metal, ceilings products, joint compound and other building products throughout the United States.
Consolidation and Presentation	'
	Consolidation and Presentation
	Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of USG Corporation, its majority-owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities. Entities in which we have more than a 20% but not more than 50% ownership interest are accounted for using the equity method of accounting and are not material to our consolidated operations. All intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. On our consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, a portion of the amounts previously included within "(Decrease) increase in other liabilities" have been reclassified to "(Decrease) increase in pension and other postretirement benefits" to conform to the current year presentation, and amounts previously included in "Receivables" have been reclassified to "Provision for Bad Debt."
Use of Estimates	'
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Revenue Recognition	'
	Revenue Recognition
	With the exception of our Building Products Distribution segment, we recognize revenue upon the shipment of products to customers, which is when title and risk of loss are transferred to customers, and our products are generally shipped free on board, commonly called FOB, shipping point. For Building Products Distribution, revenue is recognized and title and risk of loss are transferred when customers receive products, either through delivery by company trucks or customer pickup. We record provisions for discounts to customers based on the terms of sale in the same period in which the related sales are recorded. We record estimated reductions to revenue for customer programs and incentive offerings, including promotions and other volume-based incentives, in the period in which the sale occurs.
Shipping and Handling Costs	'
	Shipping and Handling Costs
	Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of products sold.
Advertising	'
	Advertising
	Advertising expenses consist of media advertising and related production costs and sponsorships. We charge advertising expenses to earnings as incurred.
Research and Development	'
	Research and Development
	We charge research and development expenditures to earnings as incurred.
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	We record income tax expense (benefit) under the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on the future tax consequences to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and attributable to net operating loss, or NOL, and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or paid. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in earnings in the period when the change is enacted. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized.
Inventory Valuation	'
	Inventory Valuation
	All of our inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Virtually all of our inventories are valued under the average cost method with the remainder valued under the first-in, first-out cost method. Inventories include materials, labor and applicable factory overhead costs. Depreciation associated with manufacturing assets is excluded from inventory cost, but is included in cost of products sold.
Earnings (Loss) Per Share	'
	Earnings (Loss) per Share
	Basic earnings (loss) per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the dilutive effect, if any, of restricted stock units, or RSUs, and performance shares, the potential exercise of outstanding stock options and the potential conversion of our 10% convertible senior notes.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	'
	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	Cash and cash equivalents include highly liquid investments, primarily money market funds, with maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase.
Marketable Securities	'
	Marketable Securities
	Marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale securities and reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), or AOCI. If it is deemed that marketable securities have unrealized losses that are other than temporary, these losses will be recorded in earnings immediately. Situations in which losses may be considered other than temporary include when we have decided to sell a security or when it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security before we recover its amortized cost basis.
Receivables	'
	Receivables
	We include trade receivables in receivables on our consolidated balance sheets. Trade receivables are recorded at net realizable value, which includes allowances for cash discounts and doubtful accounts, and are reflected net of customer incentives. We review the collectability of trade receivables on an ongoing basis. We reserve for trade receivables determined to be uncollectible. This determination is based on the delinquency of the account, the financial condition of the customer and our collection experience.
	We include short-term financing receivables in receivables and long-term financing receivables in other assets on our consolidated balance sheets. Financing receivables are recorded at net realizable value which includes an allowance for credit losses. We review the collectability of financing receivables on an ongoing basis. We reserve for financing receivables determined to be uncollectible. This determination is based on the delinquency of the account and the financial condition of the other party. As of December 31, 2013, the allowance for credit losses was immaterial.
Property, Plant and Equipment	'
	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost. We record depreciation of property, plant and equipment on a straight-line basis over the expected useful lives of the assets. We have determined estimated useful lives to be 50 years for buildings and improvements, a range of 10 to 25 years for machinery and equipment, and 5 years for computer software and systems development costs. Leasehold improvements are capitalized and amortized over the shorter of the remaining lease term or remaining economic useful life. We capitalize interest during the active construction period of major capital projects. Capitalized interest is added to the cost of the underlying assets and is depreciated over the useful lives of those assets. There was $3 million of interest capitalized in 2013, and no interest was capitalized in 2012 or 2011. Facility start-up costs that cannot be capitalized are expensed as incurred and recorded in cost of products sold. We compute depletion on a basis calculated to spread the cost of gypsum and other applicable resources over the estimated quantities of material recoverable. We review property, plant and equipment for impairment when indicators of a potential impairment are present by comparing the carrying values of the assets with their estimated future undiscounted cash flows. If we determine an impairment exists, the asset is written down to estimated fair value.
Intangible Assets	'
	Intangible Assets
	We perform impairment tests for intangible assets with indefinite useful lives as of October 31 of each year, or more frequently if events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of an intangible asset below its carrying value. The impairment test consists of a comparison of the fair value of the asset with its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of an intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. Intangible assets determined to have indefinite useful lives, primarily comprised of trade names, are not amortized. An income approach is used for valuing trade names. Assumptions used in the income approach include projected revenues and assumed royalty, long-term growth and discount rates. We perform impairment tests on definite lived intangible assets, such as customer relationships, upon identification of events or circumstances that may indicate the carrying amount of the assets might be unrecoverable by comparing their undiscounted cash flows with their carrying value. If we determine impairment exists, the assets are written down to estimated fair value.
Share-Based Compensation	'
	Share-Based Compensation
	We award share-based compensation to employees in the form of stock options, restricted stock units, market share units, and performance shares and to directors in the form of shares of our common stock. All grants under share-based payment programs are accounted for at fair value at the date of grant. We recognize expense on all share-based awards to employees expected to vest over the service period, which is the shorter of the period until the employees’ retirement eligibility dates or the service period of the award.
Derivative Instruments	'
	Derivative Instruments
	We use derivative instruments to manage selected commodity price and foreign currency exposures. We do not use derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes, and we typically do not hedge beyond two years. All derivative instruments must be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. For derivatives designated as fair value hedges, the changes in the fair values of both the derivative instrument and the hedged item are recognized in earnings in the current period. For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative is recorded to AOCI, and is reclassified to earnings when the underlying forecasted transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative is reported in cost of products sold in the current period. We periodically reassess the probability of the underlying forecasted transaction occurring. For derivatives designated as net investment hedges, we record changes in fair value to AOCI. For derivatives not designated as hedging instruments, all changes in fair value are recorded to earnings in the current period.
	Currently, we are using swap and option contracts to hedge a significant portion of our anticipated purchases of natural gas to be used in our manufacturing operations. Generally, we hedge the cost of a majority of our anticipated purchases of natural gas over the next 12 months. However, we review our positions regularly and make adjustments as market conditions warrant. The majority of contracts currently in place are designated as cash flow hedges, and the remainder are not designated as hedging instruments.
	We have operations in a number of countries and use forward contracts from time-to-time to hedge the risk of changes in cash flows resulting from selected forecasted intercompany and third-party sales or purchases, as well as intercompany loans, denominated in non-U.S. currencies, or to hedge the risk of selected changes in our net investment in foreign subsidiaries. These contracts are designated as either cash flow hedges or net investment hedges or are not designated as hedging instruments.
Foreign Currency Translation	'
	Foreign Currency Translation
	We translate foreign-currency-denominated assets and liabilities into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates existing as of the respective balance sheet dates. We translate income and expense items at the average exchange rates during the respective periods. We record translation adjustments resulting from fluctuations in exchange rates to AOCI on our consolidated balance sheets. We record transaction gains and losses to earnings.
Fair Value Measurements	'
	Fair Value Measurements
	Certain assets and liabilities are required to be recorded at fair value. The estimated fair values of those assets and liabilities have been determined using market information and valuation methodologies. Changes in assumptions or estimation methods could affect the fair value estimates. However, we do not believe any such changes would have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
	•	Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets;
	•	Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets; and
	•	Level 3 – Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.
	Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis rather than on an ongoing basis, but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances, such as when there is evidence of impairment or when a new liability is being established that requires fair value measurement.

Discontinued_Operations_Tables

Discontinued Operations (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Disposal Groups Including Discontinued Operations Income Statement	'
	Sales from discontinued operations, operating profit from discontinued operations and income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes were as follows:
		Twelve months ended December 31,
	(millions)	2013			2012		2011
	Sales from discontinued operations	$	—		$	106	$	114
	Operating profit from discontinued operations	—			7		9
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes	(1		)	6		10

Marketable_Securities_Tables

Marketable Securities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]	'
Investments in Marketable Securities	'
	Our investments in marketable securities as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 consisted of the following:
		2013				2012
	millions	Amortized		Fair		Amortized		Fair
		Cost		Value		Cost		Value
	Corporate debt securities	$	87	$	87	$	82	$	82
	U.S. government and agency debt securities	12		12		16		16
	Non-U.S. government debt securities	—		—		1		1
	Asset-backed debt securities	20		20		6		6
	Certificates of deposit	17		17		16		16
	Municipal debt securities	6		6		10		10
	Total marketable securities	$	142	$	142	$	131	$	131
Contractual Maturities of Marketable Securities	'
	Contractual maturities of marketable securities as of December 31, 2013 were as follows:
	(millions)	Amortized		Fair
		Cost		Value
	Due in 1 year or less	$	82	$	82
	Due in 1-5 years	60		60
	Total marketable securities	$	142	$	142

Intangible_Assets_Tables

Intangible Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets	'
	Intangible assets with definite lives are amortized. These assets are summarized as follows:
		As of December 31, 2013							As of December 31, 2012
	(millions)	Gross		Accumulated			Net		Gross		Accumulated			Net
		Carrying		Amortization					Carrying		Amortization
		Amount							Amount
	Intangible Assets with Definite Lives:
	Customer relationships	$	70	$	(48	)	$	22	$	70	$	(41	)	$	29
	Other	9		(6		)	3		9		(6		)	3
	Total	$	79	$	(54	)	$	25	$	79	$	(47	)	$	32
Estimated Annual Amortization Expense Intangible Assets	'
	Estimated annual amortization expense is as follows:
	(millions)	2014		2015			2016		2017		2018 and thereafter
	Estimated annual amortization expense	$	7	$	7		$	7	$	2	$	2
Schedule of Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets	'
	Intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized. These assets are summarized as follows:
		As of December 31, 2013							As of December 31, 2012
	(millions)	Gross		Impairment			Net		Gross		Impairment			Net
		Carrying		Charges					Carrying		Charges
		Amount							Amount
	Intangible Assets with Indefinite Lives:
	Trade names	$	22	$	—		$	22	$	22	$	—		$	22
	Other	8		1			7		8		—			8
	Total	$	30	$	1		$	29	$	30	$	—		$	30

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments	'
	Total debt as of December 31 consisted of the following:
	(millions)	2013		2012
	5.875% senior notes due 2021	$	350	$	—
	6.3% senior notes due 2016	500		500
	7.75% senior notes due 2018 (net of discount: 2012 - $1)	500		499
	7.875% senior notes due 2020 (net of discount: 2013 - $1; 2012 - $2)	249		248
	8.375% senior notes due 2018	350		350
	9.75% senior notes due 2014	59		59
	10% convertible senior notes due 2018 (net of discount: 2013 - $3; 2012 - $15) (1)	72		385
	Ship mortgage facility (includes current portion of long-term debt: 2013 - $4; 2012 - $4)	25		29
	Credit facilities of Oman joint ventures	11		—
	Industrial revenue bonds (due 2028 through 2034)	239		239
	Total	$	2,355	$	2,309
Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt	'
	As of December 31, 2013, the amounts of total debt outstanding maturing in each of the next five years and beyond were as follows:
	(millions)	2014		2015		2016		2017		2018		After 2018
	Debt maturities	$	63	$	4	$	508	$	9	$	925	$	850

Derivative_Instruments_Tables

Derivative Instruments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Derivative Instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations	'
	The following are the pretax effects of derivative instruments on the consolidated statements of operations and the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011:
		Amount of Gain or (Loss)												Location of Gain or (Loss)		Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from
		Recognized in												Reclassified from		AOCI into Income
		Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives (Effective Portion)												AOCI into Income		(Effective Portion)
														(Effective Portion)
	(millions)	2013				2012				2011						2013			2012			2011
	Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships
	Commodity contracts	$	1			$	(4	)		$	(3	)		Cost of products sold		$	(2	)	$	(10	)	$	(17	)
	Foreign exchange contracts	3				(1		)		2				Cost of products sold		3			2			(5		)
	Derivatives in Net Investment Hedging Relationships
	Foreign exchange contracts	—				—				—				Gain on sale of discontinued operations		—			(1		)	—
	Total	$	4			$	(5	)		$	(1	)				$	1		$	(9	)	$	(22	)
			Location of Gain or (Loss)		Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income
			Recognized in Income		on Derivatives
			on Derivatives
	(millions)				2013				2012				2011
	Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
	Commodity contracts		Cost of products sold		$	2			$	—			$	(4	)
	Foreign exchange contracts		Other (income) expense, net		—				—				—
	Total				$	2			$	—			$	(4	)
Fair Values of Derivative Instruments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets	'
	The following are the fair values of derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012:
		Balance Sheet	Fair Value								Balance Sheet	Fair Value
		Location									Location
	(millions)		12/31/13				12/31/12					12/31/13				12/31/12
	Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships
	Commodity contracts	Other current assets	$	2			$	1			Accrued expenses	$	—			$	2
	Foreign exchange contracts	Other current assets	1				1				Accrued expenses	—				—
	Total derivatives in hedging relationships		$	3			$	2				$	—			$	2
		Balance Sheet	Fair Value								Balance Sheet	Fair Value
		Location									Location
	(millions)		12/31/13				12/31/12					12/31/13				12/31/12
	Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
	Commodity contracts	Other current assets	$	2			$	1			Accrued expenses	$	—			$	—
	Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments		$	2			$	1				$	—			$	—
	Total derivatives	Total assets	$	5			$	3			Total liabilities	$	—			$	2

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis	'
	Our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows:
		Quoted Prices				Significant					Significant				Total
		in Active				Other					Unobservable
		Markets for				Observable					Inputs
		Identical				Inputs					(Level 3)
		Assets				(Level 2)
		(Level 1)
	(millions)	12/31/13		12/31/12		12/31/13		12/31/12			12/31/13		12/31/12		12/31/13		12/31/12
	Cash equivalents	$	549	$	284	$	24	$	46		$	—	$	—	$	573	$	330
	Marketable securities:
	Corporate debt securities	—		—		87		82			—		—		87		82
	U.S. government and agency debt securities	—		—		12		16			—		—		12		16
	Non-U.S. government debt securities	—		—		—		1			—		—		—		1
	Asset-backed debt securities	—		—		20		6			—		—		20		6
	Certificates of deposit	—		—		17		16			—		—		17		16
	Municipal debt securities	—		—		6		10			—		—		6		10
	Derivative assets	—		—		5		3			—		—		5		3
	Derivative liabilities	—		—		—		(2		)	—		—		—		(2		)

Employee_Retirement_Plans_Tabl

Employee Retirement Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Components of Net Pension and Postretirement Benefits Costs	'
	The components of net pension and postretirement benefit costs are summarized in the following table:
	(millions)	2013				2012				2011
	Pension Benefits:
	Service cost of benefits earned	$	38			$	32			$	28
	Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	63				64				63
	Expected return on plan assets	(76		)		(70		)		(65		)
	Settlement (a)	16				—				2
	Net amortization	43				34				24
	Net pension cost	$	84			$	60			$	52
	Postretirement Benefits:
	Service cost of benefits earned	$	3			$	3			$	6
	Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	7				8				14
	Net amortization	(34		)		(35		)		(22		)
	Net postretirement (benefit) cost	$	(24	)		$	(24	)		$	(2	)
Schedule of Accumulated Benefit Obligations in Excess of Fair Value of Plan Assets	'
		As of December 31,
	(millions)	2013				2012
	Selected information for pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:
	Accumulated benefit obligation	$	(32	)		$	(1,368	)
	Fair value of plan assets	3				1,131
	Selected information for pension plans with benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:
	Benefit obligation	$	(1,146	)		$	(1,536	)
	Fair value of plan assets	1,021				1,133
Schedule of Accumulated and Projected Benefit Obligations	'
	The following table summarizes projected benefit obligations, plan assets and funded status as of December 31:
		Pension								Postretirement
	(millions)	2013				2012				2013			2012
	Change in Benefit Obligation:
	Benefit obligation as of January 1	$	1,536			$	1,334			$	186		$	174
	Service cost	38				32				3			3
	Interest cost	63				64				7			8
	Curtailment/settlements	(103		)		—				—			—
	Participant contributions	10				9				8			8
	Benefits paid	(38		)		(75		)		(21		)	(22		)
	Plan amendment	1				1				—			—
	Actuarial (gain) loss	(115		)		164				(13		)	13
	Foreign currency translation	(16		)		7				(4		)	2
	Benefit obligation as of December 31	$	1,376			$	1,536			$	166		$	186
	Change in Plan Assets:
	Fair value as of January 1	$	1,133			$	965			$	—		$	—
	Actual return on plan assets	203				162				—			—
	Employer contributions	71				66				13			14
	Participant contributions	10				9				8			8
	Benefits paid	(38		)		(75		)		(21		)	(22		)
	Curtailment/settlements	(103		)		—				—			—
	Foreign currency translation	(14		)		6				—			—
	Fair value as of December 31	$	1,262			$	1,133			$	—		$	—
	Funded status	$	(114	)		$	(403	)		$	(166	)	$	(186	)
	Components on the Consolidated Balance Sheets:
	Noncurrent assets	$	11			$	—			$	—		$	—
	Current liabilities	(1		)		(2		)		(13		)	(14		)
	Noncurrent liabilities	(124		)		(401		)		(153		)	(172		)
	Net liability as of December 31	$	(114	)		$	(403	)		$	(166	)	$	(186	)
	Pretax Components in AOCI:
	Net actuarial loss	$	259			$	563			$	21		$	37
	Prior service cost (credit)	—				1				(179		)	(215		)
	Total as of December 31	$	259			$	564			$	(158	)	$	(178	)
Schedule of Assumptions Used	'
	The following tables reflect the assumptions used in the accounting for our plans:
		Pension						Postretirement
		2013			2012			2013			2012
	Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations as of December 31:
	Discount rate	4.9	%		4.2	%		4.6	%		3.95	%
	Compensation increase rate *	3.5	%		3.4	%
	Weighted average assumptions used to determine net cost for years ended December 31:
	Discount rate	4.2	%		4.95	%		3.95	%		4.5	%
	Expected return on plan assets *	7	%		7	%
	Compensation increase rate *	3.4	%		3.3	%
Schedule of Effect of One-Percentage-Point Change in Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates	'
	A one percentage point change in the assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects on our U.S. and Canadian plans:
	(millions)	One-Percentage-				One-Percentage-
		Point Increase				Point Decrease
	Effect on total service and interest cost	$	—			$	—
	Effect on postretirement benefit obligation	11				(9		)
Investment Policies and Strategies	'
	December 31, 2013.
		Investment Policy
		Target			Range
	Asset Categories:
	Equity	61	%		48% - 70%
	Fixed income	23	%		14% - 32%
	Limited partnerships	12	%		4% - 20%
	Real estate	4	%		0% - 10%
	Cash equivalents and short-term investments	—			0% - 8%
	Total	100	%
Schedule of Fair Value of Defined Plan Assets	'
	The fair values by hierarchy of inputs as of December 31 were as follows:
		Quoted Prices								Significant						Significant				Total
		in Active								Other						Unobservable
		Markets for								Observable						Inputs
		Identical								Inputs						(Level 3)
		Assets								(Level 2)
		(Level 1)
	(millions)	2013				2012				2013			2012			2013		2012		2013			2012
	Asset Categories:
	Equity: (a)
	Common and preferred stock	$	293			$	273			$	—		$	—		$	—	$	—	$	293		$	273
	USG common stock	—				12				—			—			—		—		—			12
	Commingled/pooled/mutual funds	131				112				396			324			—		—		527			436
	Total equity	424				397				396			324			—		—		820			721
	Fixed income: (b)
	U.S. government and agency debt securities	—				—				23			20			—		—		23			20
	Non-U.S. government and agency debt securities	—				—				15			15			—		—		15			15
	Corporate debt securities	—				—				25			19			—		—		25			19
	Commingled/pooled funds	—				—				279			227			—		—		279			227
	Other	—				—				1			—			1		1		2			1
	Total fixed income	—				—				343			281			1		1		344			282
	Limited partnerships (c)	—				—				—			—			39		45		39			45
	Real estate funds (d)	—				—				—			—			35		36		35			36
	Cash equivalents and short-term investments (e)	—				—				22			45			—		—		22			45
	Total	$	424			$	397			$	761		$	650		$	75	$	82	$	1,260		$	1,129
	Cash on hand																			3			—
	Receivables																			—			5
	Accounts payable																			(1		)	(1		)
	Total																			$	1,262		$	1,133
Fair Value Measurement Inputs	'
	A reconciliation of the change in the fair value measurement of the defined benefit plans’ consolidated assets using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) between December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2013 is as follows:
	(millions)	Fixed				Real				Limited			Total
		Income				Estate				Partnerships
	Balance as of December 31, 2011	$	1			$	33			$	88		$	122
	Realized gains (losses)	—				1				10			11
	Unrealized gains (losses)	—				1				(8		)	(7		)
	Purchases, sales and settlements:
	Purchases	—				1				3			4
	Sales	—				—				(48		)	(48		)
	Settlements	—				—				—			—
	Net transfers into (out of) Level 3	—				—				—			—
	Balance as of December 31, 2012	$	1			$	36			$	45		$	82
	Realized gains (losses)	—				1				5			6
	Unrealized gains (losses)	—				2				(1		)	1
	Purchases, sales and settlements:
	Purchases	—				—				—			—
	Sales	—				(4		)		(10		)	(14		)
	Settlements	—				—				—			—
	Net transfers into (out of) Level 3	—				—				—			—
	Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	1			$	35			$	39		$	75
Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments	'
	Total benefit payments we expect to make to participants, which include payments funded from USG’s assets as well as payments from our pension plans' assets, are as follows (in millions):
	Years ended December 31	Pension				Postretirement
		Benefits				Benefits
	2014	$	72			$	13
	2015	79				10
	2016	84				11
	2017	83				11
	2018	100				12
	2019 - 2023	558				53

Share_Based_Compensation_Table

Share Based Compensation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
Stock Options Valuation Assumptions	'
	We estimated the fair value of each stock option granted on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option valuation model that uses the assumptions noted in the following table. We based expected volatility on a 50% weighting of our historical volatilities and 50% weighting of implied USG volatilities. The risk-free rate was based on zero-coupon U.S. government issues at the time of grant. The expected term was developed using the simplified method, as permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission because there is not sufficient historical stock option exercise experience available.
	Assumptions:	2012		2011
	Expected volatility	59.03	%	55.88	%
	Risk-free rate	1.24	%	2.85	%
	Expected term (in years)	6.26		6.25
	Expected dividends	—		—
Stock Options Activity	'
	A summary of stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and of stock option activity during the fiscal year then ended is presented below:
		Number of		Weighted			Weighted	Aggregate
		Options		Average			Average	Intrinsic
		0		Exercise			Remaining	Value
				Price			Contractual	(millions)
							Term (years)
	Outstanding at January 1, 2013	5,063		$	25.02		6.18	$	45
	Exercised	(377	)	10.34
	Canceled	(197	)	41.28
	Forfeited	—		—
	Outstanding at December 31, 2013	4,489		$	25.54		5.21	$	39
	Exercisable at December 31, 2013	3,602		$	27.98		5.51	$	28
	Vested or expected to vest at December 31, 2013	4,482		$	25.55		5.2	$	39
Nonvested Restricted Stock Units Activity	'
	RSUs outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and RSU activity during 2013 were as follows:
		Number		Weighted
		of Shares		Average
		0		Grant Date
				Fair Value
	Nonvested at January 1, 2013	1,249		$	14.74
	Granted	40		29.44
	Vested	(487	)	13.54
	Forfeited	(2	)	30.31
	Nonvested at December 31, 2013	800		16.15
Performance Based Units Valuation Assumptions	'
	We estimated the fair value of each performance share granted on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo simulation that uses the assumptions noted in the following table. Expected volatility is based on implied volatility of our traded options and the daily historical volatilities of our peer group. The risk-free rate was based on zero coupon U.S. government issues at the time of grant. The expected term represents the period from the grant date to the end of the three-year performance period.
	Assumptions:	2013		2012		2011
	Expected volatility	59.98	%	67.63	%	77.84	%
	Risk-free rate	0.43	%	0.36	%	1.2	%
	Expected term (in years)	2.88		2.89		2.89
	Expected dividends	—		—		—
Nonvested Performance-based Units Activity	'
	Nonvested performance shares outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and performance share activity during 2013 were as follows:
		Weighted		Weighted
		Number		Average
		of Shares		Grant Date
		0		Fair Value
	Nonvested at January 1, 2013	360		$	25.29
	Granted	105		38.89
	Vested	(152	)	28.4
	Forfeited	(5	)	26.1
	Nonvested at December 31, 2013	308		28.36

Supplemental_Balance_Sheet_Inf1

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Inventory	'
	Inventories as of December 31 consisted of the following:
	(millions)	2013				2012
	Finished goods and work in progress	$	270			$	245
	Raw materials	62				59
	Total	$	332			$	304
Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment	'
	Property, plant and equipment as of December 31 consisted of the following:
	(millions)	2013				2012
	Land and mineral deposits	$	181			$	151
	Buildings and improvements	1,139				1,132
	Machinery and equipment	2,623				2,555
		3,943				3,838
	Reserves for depreciation and depletion	(1,840		)		(1,738		)
	Total	$	2,103			$	2,100
	Annual depreciation and depletion expense	$	135			$	136
Schedule of Accrued Liabilities	'
	Accrued expenses as of December 31 consisted of the following:
	(millions)	2013				2012
	Self-insurance reserves	$	22			$	25
	Employee compensation	58				71
	Interest	48				47
	Restructuring	3				8
	Derivatives	—				2
	Pension and other postretirement benefits	14				16
	Environmental	18				14
	Other	53				54
	Total	$	216			$	237
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'
	Changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), or AOCI, are summarized in the following table:
	(millions)	Derivatives				Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans			Foreign			Total AOCI
									Currency Translation
	Balance as of December 31, 2010	$	8			$	(106	)	$	48		$	(50	)
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	—				(117		)	(29		)	(146		)
	Less: Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	(20		)		(2		)	—			(22		)
	Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	20				(115		)	(29		)	(124		)
	Balance as of December 31, 2011	$	28			$	(221	)	$	19		$	(174	)
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(5		)		(81		)	22			(64		)
	Less: Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax	(9		)		1			3			(5		)
	Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	4				(82		)	19			(59		)
	Balance as of December 31, 2012	$	32			$	(303	)	$	38		$	(233	)
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	4				247			(17		)	234
	Less: Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax (a)	1				(24		)	—			(23		)
	Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	3				271			(17		)	257
	Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	35			$	(32	)	$	21		$	24
	(a) The following table shows the components of the amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of tax:
					2013
		Derivatives
		Net reclassification from AOCI for cash flow hedges included in cost of products sold			$	(1	)
		Income tax expense on reclassification from AOCI included in income tax expense (benefit)			—
		Net amount reclassified from AOCI			$	(1	)
		Defined Benefit Plans
		Net reclassification from AOCI for amortization of prior service cost included in cost of products sold			$	19
		Net reclassification from AOCI for amortization of prior service cost included in selling and administrative expenses			7
		Income tax benefit on reclassification from AOCI included in income tax expense (benefit)			(2		)
		Net amount reclassified from AOCI			$	24
Schedule of Asset Retirement Obligations	'
	Changes in our liability for asset retirement obligations during 2013 and 2012 consisted of the following:
	(millions)	2013				2012
	Balance as of January 1	$	139			$	114
	Accretion expense	8				10
	Liabilities incurred	3				3
	Changes in estimated cash flows (a)	(11		)		17
	Liabilities settled	(4		)		(5		)
	Foreign currency translation	(3		)		—
	Balance as of December 31	$	132			$	139
	(a) Changes in estimated cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2012 include $7 million resulting from a change in estimate related to reclamation activities for our gypsum quarry and ship loading facility in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada which we permanently closed during the third quarter of 2011.

Restructuring_and_LongLived_As1

Restructuring and Long-Lived Asset Impairment Charges (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Restructuring Charges	'
	As part of our continuing efforts to adapt our operations to market conditions, we implemented restructuring activities in 2013, 2012 and 2011 that resulted in the following restructuring and long-lived asset impairment charges:
	(millions)	2013			2012			2011
	Long-lived asset impairment charges related to:
	Permanently closed gypsum quarry and ship loading facility *	$	—		$	7		$	53
	Other	—			1			—
	Total long-lived asset impairment charges	—			8			53
	Asset impairment charges related to receivables and inventory	—			—			2
	Severance	2			6			7
	Lease obligations	(1		)	—			4
	Other exit costs	2			4			9
	Total	$	3		$	18		$	75
	*	During the fourth quarter of 2012, as a result of a change in estimate related to reclamation activities, we increased the related asset retirement obligation by $7 million with a corresponding increase to the long-lived assets at this facility. Consequently, we recorded a long-lived asset impairment charge of $7 million to write the assets down to their fair value of $6 million. See Note 11.
Restructuring Reserves	'
	The restructuring reserve, and long-lived asset impairment charges, for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 is summarized as follows:
		Balance			Annual Activity									Balance
		as of												as of
	(millions)	January 1			Charges			Cash			Asset			December 31
								Payments			Impairment
	2013 Activity:
	Severance	$	5		$	2		$	(6	)	$	—		$	1
	Lease obligations	15			(1		)	(4		)	—			10
	Other exit costs	—			2			(2		)	—			—
	Total	$	20		$	3		$	(12	)	$	—		$	11
	2012 Activity:
	Severance	$	4		$	6		$	(5	)	$	—		$	5
	Lease obligations	21			—			(6		)	—			15
	Asset impairments	—			8			—			(8		)	—
	Other exit costs	9			4			(13		)	—			—
	Total	$	34		$	18		$	(24	)	$	(8	)	$	20
	2011 Activity:
	Severance	$	11		$	7		$	(14	)	$	—		$	4
	Lease obligations	29			4			(12		)	—			21
	Asset impairments	—			55			—			(55		)	—
	Other exit costs	9			9			(9		)	—			9
	Total	$	49		$	75		$	(35	)	$	(55	)	$	34

Segments_Tables

Segments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Reportable Segments	'
		For the year ended December 31,
	(millions)	2013			2012			2011
	Net Sales:
	North American Gypsum	$	2,249		$	1,963		$	1,695
	Worldwide Ceilings	625			600			583
	Building Products Distribution	1,245			1,145			1,060
	Eliminations	(549		)	(484		)	(428		)
	Total	$	3,570		$	3,224		$	2,910
	Operating Profit (Loss):
	North American Gypsum	$	264		$	115		$	(136	)
	Worldwide Ceilings	94			83			82
	Building Products Distribution	6			(33		)	(68		)
	Corporate	(92		)	(83		)	(80		)
	Eliminations	(14		)	(9		)	(4		)
	Total	$	258		$	73		$	(206	)
	Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:
	North American Gypsum	$	114		$	113		$	120
	Worldwide Ceilings	15			15			15
	Building Products Distribution	12			12			12
	Corporate	14			16			17
	Total	$	155		$	156		$	164
	Capital Expenditures:
	North American Gypsum	$	66		$	50		$	45
	Worldwide Ceilings	54			14			5
	Building Products Distribution	3			5			3
	Corporate	1			1			1
	Total	$	124		$	70		$	54
	Assets:	December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012			December 31, 2011
	North American Gypsum	$	2,910		$	2,926		$	2,946
	Worldwide Ceilings	521			389			347
	Building Products Distribution	405			369			366
	Corporate	376			105			73
	Assets related to discontinued operations	—			—			35
	Eliminations	(91		)	(66		)	(48		)
	Total	$	4,121		$	3,723		$	3,719
Geographic Information	'
	GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
		For the year ended December 31,
	(millions)	2013			2012			2011
	Net Sales:
	United States	$	3,029		$	2,702		$	2,437
	Canada	417			408			383
	Other Foreign	309			288			246
	Geographic transfers	(185		)	(174		)	(156		)
	Total	$	3,570		$	3,224		$	2,910
	Long-lived assets, consisting of property, plant and equipment, net, by geographic location were as follows:
	(millions)				December 31,			December 31,
					2013			2012
	Long-Lived Assets:
	United States				$	1,691		$	1,721
	Canada				128			135
	Other Foreign				284			244
	Total				$	2,103		$	2,100

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes Domestic and Foreign	'
	Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes consisted of the following:
	(millions)	2013			2012			2011
	U.S.	$	17		$	(198	)	$	(367	)
	Foreign	42			28			(43		)
	Total	$	59		$	(170	)	$	(410	)
Income Tax (Benefit) Expense	'
	Income tax expense (benefit) on continuing operations consisted of the following:
	(millions)	2013			2012			2011
	Current:
	Federal	$	—		$	—		$	(5	)
	Foreign	10			8			1
	State	1			—			—
		11			8			(4		)
	Deferred:
	Federal	(2		)	3			—
	Foreign	2			1			(11		)
	State	—			—			1
		—			4			(10		)
	Total (a)	$	11		$	12		$	(14	)
	(a)	Income tax expense (benefit) on continuing operations includes a noncash increase (decrease) in the deferred tax asset valuation allowances of $(8) million in 2013, $76 million in 2012 and $149 million in 2011.
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation	'
	For our continuing operations, differences between actual provisions for income taxes and provisions for income taxes at the U.S. federal statutory rate (35%) were as follows:
	(millions)	2013			2012			2011
	Taxes on income (loss) from continuing operations at U.S. federal statutory rate	$	21		$	(60	)	$	(143	)
	Foreign earnings subject to different tax rates	(6		)	(5		)	5
	State income tax, net of federal benefit	1			(6		)	(18		)
	Change in valuation allowance	(8		)	76			149
	Change in unrecognized tax benefits	—			—			(7		)
	Withholding taxes on dividends between foreign entities	6			—			—
	Other, net	(3		)	7			—
	Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	$	11		$	12		$	(14	)
	Effective income tax rate	18.6		%	(7.1		)%	3.4		%
Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities	'
	Significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31 were as follows:
	(millions)	2013			2012
	Deferred Tax Assets:
	Net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards	$	1,043		$	1,066
	Pension and postretirement benefits	110			226
	Goodwill and other intangible assets	33			36
	Reserves not deductible until paid	31			33
	Self insurance	15			12
	Capitalized interest	12			13
	Inventories	8			8
	Share-based compensation	35			32
	Deferred tax assets before valuation allowance	1,287			1,426
	Valuation allowance	(995		)	(1,125		)
	Total deferred tax assets	$	292		$	301
	Deferred Tax Liabilities:
	Property, plant and equipment	290			285
	Other	(1		)	3
	Total deferred tax liabilities	289			288
	Net deferred tax assets	$	3		$	13
Reconciliation of the Beginning and Ending Amount of Unrecognized Tax Benefits	'
	A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
	(millions)	2013			2012			2011
	Balance as of January 1	$	16		$	12		$	34
	Tax positions related to the current period:
	Gross increase	4			2			—
	Gross decrease	—			—			—
	Tax positions related to prior periods:
	Gross increase	2			5			2
	Gross decrease	—			—			(20		)
	Settlements	—			(3		)	(3		)
	Lapse of statutes of limitations	—			—			(1		)
	Balance as of December 31	$	22		$	16		$	12

Earnings_Loss_Per_Share_Tables

Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings (Loss) Per Share Reconciliation	'
	The reconciliation of basic income (loss) per share to diluted income (loss) per share is shown in the following table:
	(millions, except per-share data)	2013				2012			2011
	Income (loss) from continuing operations	$	48			$	(182	)	$	(396	)
	Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1		)		1			$	—
	Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to USG	$	49			$	(183	)	$	(396	)
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(2		)		2			6
	Gain on sale of discontinued operations	—				55			—
	Net income (loss) attributable to USG	$	47			$	(126	)	$	(390	)
	Average common shares	108.9				106.4			103.9
	Average diluted common shares	111.4				106.4			103.9
	Basic earnings (loss) per average common share:
	Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to USG	$	0.45			$	(1.72	)	$	(3.81	)
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(0.02		)		0.53			0.05
	Net income (loss) attributable to USG	$	0.43			$	(1.19	)	$	(3.76	)
	Diluted earnings (loss) per average common share:
	Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to USG	$	0.44			$	(1.72	)	$	(3.81	)
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(0.02		)		0.53			0.05
	Net income (loss) attributable to USG	$	0.42			$	(1.19	)	$	(3.76	)
Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share	'
	Stock options, RSUs, MSUs, performance shares and common shares issuable upon conversion of our 10% convertible senior notes that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings (loss) per share for those periods because their inclusion was anti-dilutive were as follows:
	(millions, common shares)	2013			2012			2011
	Stock options, RSUs, MSUs and performance shares	2.2			7.9			6.9
	10% convertible senior notes due 2018 (a)	6.6			35.1			35.1
	(a)	In December 2013, we converted $325 million of our 10% convertible senior notes due 2018 into common shares. See further discussion in Note 6.

Lease_Commitments_Lease_Commit

Lease Commitments Lease Commitments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Lease Commitments [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases	'
	Future minimum lease payments required under operating leases with initial or remaining noncancelable terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2013 were as follows:
	(millions)	2014		2015		2016		2017		2018		After 2018
	Future minimum lease payments	$	60	$	52	$	42	$	37	$	27	$	65

Quarterly_Financial_Informatio1

Quarterly Financial Information (unaudited) Quarterly Financial Data (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information	'
		Quarter
	(millions, except share data)	First			Second			Third			Fourth
	2013
	Net sales	$	814		$	916		$	925		$	915
	Gross profit	124			151			155			151			(b)
	Operating profit	49			74			75			60			(b)
	Income (loss) from continuing operations	2			25			24			(3		)	(b)
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	—			—			(1		)	(1		)
	Net income (loss) attributable to USG	2			25			23			(3		)	(b)
	Income (loss) from continuing operations per common share:
	Basic (a)	0.02			0.23			0.23			(0.02		)
	Diluted (a)	0.02			0.22			0.22			(0.02		)
	2012
	Net sales	$	783		$	798		$	828		$	815
	Gross profit	102			102			106			85
	Operating profit (loss)	24			28			29			(8		)	(c)
	Loss from continuing operations	(29		)	(59		)	(30		)	(64		)	(c)
	Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	2			2			1			(3		)
	Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	—			—			—			55
	Net loss attributable to USG	(27		)	(57		)	(29		)	(13		)	(c)
	Loss from continuing operations per common share:
	Basic (a)	(0.28		)	(0.55		)	(0.29		)	(0.59		)
	Diluted (a)	(0.28		)	(0.55		)	(0.29		)	(0.59		)
	(a)	The sum of the four quarters is not necessarily the same as the total for the year.
	(b)	Gross profit, operating profit, income from continuing operations and net income attributable to USG for the fourth quarter of 2013 included $16 million of pension settlement charges.
	(c)	Operating loss, loss from continuing operations and net loss attributable to USG for the fourth quarter of 2012 included restructuring and long-lived asset impairment charges of $13 million pretax ($11 million after-tax).

Significant_Accounting_Policie2

Significant Accounting Policies (Details)	Dec. 31, 2013
Minimum [Member]	'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	20.00%
Maximum [Member]	'
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%

Significant_Accounting_Policie3

Significant Accounting Policies (Details 1) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Interest Costs Capitalized	$3	$0	$0
Assets Held-for-sale, Current	1	0	'
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment	'	$4	'
Building and Building Improvements [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'50 years	'	'
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'10 years	'	'
Machinery and Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'25 years	'	'
Computer Equipment [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'5 years	'	'

Significant_Accounting_Policie4

Significant Accounting Policies (Details 2) (Ten Percent Convertible Senior Notes due Two Thousand Eighteen [Member], USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Ten Percent Convertible Senior Notes due Two Thousand Eighteen [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Face amount of notes	'	$400
Interest rate of convertible senior notes	10.00%	10.00%

Significant_Accounting_Policie5

Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'	'	'
Advertising Expense	$22	$15	$15
Research and Development Expense	21	18	13
Typical hedging period	'2 years	'	'
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), before Tax	4	0	4
Interest Costs Capitalized	$3	$0	$0
Period Of Anticipated Natural Gas Purchases Typically Hedged	'12 months	'	'

Discontinued_Operations_Detail

Discontinued Operations (Details 1) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]	'	'	'
Sales from discontinued operations	$0	$106	$114
Operating profit from discontinued operations	0	7	9
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes	($1)	$6	$10

Discontinued_Operations_Detail1

Discontinued Operations (Details Textuals) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net proceeds from sale of business	'	$0	$73	$0
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	$55	$0	$55	$0
Knauf [Member]	'	'	'	'
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Disposal Group Purchasers Affiliates Beneficial Ownership in Common Stock of USG	'	11.00%	'	'

Marketable_Securities_Details

Marketable Securities (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Investments in marketable securities	'	'
Marketable securities, amortized cost	$142	$131
Marketable securities, Fair value	142	131
Corporate debt securities [Member]	'	'
Investments in marketable securities	'	'
Marketable securities, amortized cost	87	82
Marketable securities, Fair value	87	82
U.S. government and agency debt securities [Member]	'	'
Investments in marketable securities	'	'
Marketable securities, amortized cost	12	16
Marketable securities, Fair value	12	16
Non-U.S. government debt securities [Member]	'	'
Investments in marketable securities	'	'
Marketable securities, amortized cost	0	1
Marketable securities, Fair value	0	1
Asset-backed debt securities [Member]	'	'
Investments in marketable securities	'	'
Marketable securities, amortized cost	20	6
Marketable securities, Fair value	20	6
Certificates of deposit [Member]	'	'
Investments in marketable securities	'	'
Marketable securities, amortized cost	17	16
Marketable securities, Fair value	17	16
Municipal debt securities [Member]	'	'
Investments in marketable securities	'	'
Marketable securities, amortized cost	6	10
Marketable securities, Fair value	$6	$10

Marketable_Securities_Details_

Marketable Securities (Details 1) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]	'	'
Due in 1 year or less, amortized cost	$82	'
Due in 1 year or less, fair value	82	'
Due in 1-5 years, amortized cost	60	'
Due in 1-5 years, fair value	60	'
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	142	'
Available for Sale Debt Securities Fair Value	$142	$131

Intangible_Assets_Details

Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Intangible assets with definite lives, Total	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	$79	$79
Accumulated Amortization	-54	-47
Net	25	32
Customer relationships [Member]	'	'
Intangible assets with definite lives, Total	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	70	70
Accumulated Amortization	-48	-41
Net	22	29
Other Intangible Assets [Member]	'	'
Intangible assets with definite lives, Total	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	9	9
Accumulated Amortization	-6	-6
Net	$3	$3

Intangible_Assets_Details_1

Intangible Assets (Details 1) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Intangible Assets [Abstract]	'
Estimated future amortization expense, 2014	$7
Estimated future amortization expense, 2015	7
Estimated future amortization expense, 2016	7
Estimated future amortization expense, 2017	2
Estimated future amortization expense, 2018	$2

Intangible_Assets_Details_2

Intangible Assets (Details 2) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Intangible Assets with indefinite lives, Total	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	$30	$30
Impairment Charges	1	0
Net	29	30
Trade names [Member]	'	'
Intangible Assets with indefinite lives, Total	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	22	22
Impairment Charges	0	0
Net	22	22
Other Intangible Assets [Member]	'	'
Intangible Assets with indefinite lives, Total	'	'
Gross Carrying Amount	8	8
Impairment Charges	1	0
Net	$7	$8

Intangible_Assets_Details_Text

Intangible Assets (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Amortization of Intangible Assets	$7	$8	$7
Customer Relationships [Member]	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	'10 years	'	'
Other Intangible Assets [Member]	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	'11 years	'	'

Debt_Details

Debt (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Apr. 12, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Total debt, including the current portion of long-term debt	'	'	'
Total debt	$2,355	$2,309	'
Debt (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	63	4	'
Five Point Eight Seven Five Percent Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Twenty One [Member]	'	'	'
Total debt, including the current portion of long-term debt	'	'	'
Total debt	'	0	'
Debt (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.88%	'	'
Nine Point Seven Five Percent Senior Notes due Two Thousand Fourteen Net of Discount [Member]	'	'	'
Total debt, including the current portion of long-term debt	'	'	'
Total debt	59	59	'
Debt (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	9.75%	9.75%	'
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	0	0	'
Eight Point Three Seven Five Percent Senior Notes due Two Thousand Eighteen [Member]	'	'	'
Total debt, including the current portion of long-term debt	'	'	'
Total debt	350	350	'
Debt (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	8.38%	8.38%	'
Seven Point Eight Seven Five Percent Senior Notes due Two Thousand Twenty [Member]	'	'	'
Total debt, including the current portion of long-term debt	'	'	'
Total debt	249	248	'
Debt (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	7.88%	7.88%	'
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	1	2	1
Seven Point Seven Five Percent Senior Notes due Two Thousand Eighteen [Member]	'	'	'
Total debt, including the current portion of long-term debt	'	'	'
Total debt	500	499	'
Debt (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	7.75%	7.75%	'
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	'	1	'
Six Point Three Percent Senior Notes due Two Thousand Sixteen [Member] [Member]	'	'	'
Total debt, including the current portion of long-term debt	'	'	'
Total debt	500	500	'
Debt (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	6.30%	6.30%	'
Ten Percent Convertible Senior Notes due Two Thousand Eighteen [Member]	'	'	'
Total debt, including the current portion of long-term debt	'	'	'
Total debt	72	385	'
Debt (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	10.00%	10.00%	'
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	3	15	'
Ship mortgage facility [Member]	'	'	'
Total debt, including the current portion of long-term debt	'	'	'
Total debt	25	29	'
Debt (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	4	4	'
Oman Credit Facilities [Member]	'	'	'
Total debt, including the current portion of long-term debt	'	'	'
Total debt	11	0	'
Industrial revenue bonds (due 2028 through 2034) [Member]	'	'	'
Total debt, including the current portion of long-term debt	'	'	'
Total debt	$239	$239	'

Debt_Details_1

Debt (Details 1) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Next Twelve Months	$63
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Two	4
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Three	508
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Four	9
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal in Year Five	925
Long-term Debt, Maturities, Repayments of Principal after Year Five	$850

Debt_Details_Textual

Debt (Details Textual) (USD $)

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Oct. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Apr. 12, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Apr. 12, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Five Point Eight Seven Five Percent Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Twenty One [Member]

Five Point Eight Seven Five Percent Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Twenty One [Member]

Five Point Eight Seven Five Percent Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Twenty One [Member]

Nine Point Seven Five Percent Senior Notes due Two Thousand Fourteen Net of Discount [Member]

Nine Point Seven Five Percent Senior Notes due Two Thousand Fourteen Net of Discount [Member]

Nine Point Seven Five Percent Senior Notes due Two Thousand Fourteen Net of Discount [Member]

Nine Point Seven Five Percent Senior Notes due Two Thousand Fourteen Net of Discount [Member]

Seven Point Seven Five Percent Senior Notes due Two Thousand Eighteen [Member]

Seven Point Seven Five Percent Senior Notes due Two Thousand Eighteen [Member]

Six Point Three Percent Senior Notes due Two Thousand Sixteen [Member] [Member]

Six Point Three Percent Senior Notes due Two Thousand Sixteen [Member] [Member]

Seven Point Eight Seven Five Percent Senior Notes due Two Thousand Twenty [Member]

Seven Point Eight Seven Five Percent Senior Notes due Two Thousand Twenty [Member]

Seven Point Eight Seven Five Percent Senior Notes due Two Thousand Twenty [Member]

Eight Point Three Seven Five Percent Senior Notes due Two Thousand Eighteen [Member]

Eight Point Three Seven Five Percent Senior Notes due Two Thousand Eighteen [Member]

Ten Percent Convertible Senior Notes due Two Thousand Eighteen [Member]

Ten Percent Convertible Senior Notes due Two Thousand Eighteen [Member]

Ship Mortgage Facility [Member]

Ship Mortgage Facility [Member]

Industrial Revenue Bonds [Member]

Industrial Revenue Bonds [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Ten Percent Convertible Senior Notes due Two Thousand Eighteen [Member]

Affiliates of Berkshire Hathaway [Member]

Affiliates of Berkshire Hathaway [Member]

Affiliates of Berkshire Hathaway [Member]

Oman Credit Facilities [Member]

Oman Credit Facilities [Member]

Oman Credit Facilities [Member]

Oman, Rials

London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]

Seven Point Seven Five Percent Senior Notes due Two Thousand Eighteen [Member]

Ten Percent Convertible Senior Notes due Two Thousand Eighteen [Member]

Ten Percent Convertible Senior Notes due Two Thousand Eighteen [Member]

Ten Percent Convertible Senior Notes due Two Thousand Eighteen [Member]

Zawawi Gypsum LLC [Member]

Zawawi Gypsum LLC [Member]

USG-Zawawi Drywall LLC [Member]

Oman Credit Facilities [Member]

United States of America, Dollars

Oman Credit Facilities [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Conversion, Original Debt, Amount

$314

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$325

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Shares Issued

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

28,508,768

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Affiliates of Berkshire Hathaway Percentage Ownership of USG common stock

28.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Due to Related Parties Noncurrent, Face Value

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

300

'

'

'

'

'

'

Due To Related Parties, Noncurrent, Face Amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

56

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument Convertible Conversion Ratio, shares per one thousand principal amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

87.7193

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Minimum Liquidity Condition, Amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

175

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate Increase

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate at Period End

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

9.75%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Long-term Debt, Current Maturities

63

4

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4

4

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Long-term Debt, Percentage Bearing Variable Interest, Percentage Rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.65%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1.92%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Long Term Debt Repayment Period

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'8 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt (Additional Textual) [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Fair value of debt

2,659

3,093

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest accrued

48

47

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt (Textual) [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Outstanding letter of credit

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

10

1

'

'

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate During Period

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.80%

'

'

'

'

Repurchase amount of 9.75% senior notes due in 2014

'

'

'

'

'

'

123

'

'

118

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage

'

'

'

5.88%

'

'

'

9.75%

9.75%

'

7.75%

7.75%

6.30%

6.30%

7.88%

7.88%

'

8.38%

8.38%

10.00%

10.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

4.00%

'

Amount of 2014 Senior Notes, for aggregate consideration, including tender offer premium and accrued and unpaid interest

'

'

'

'

'

'

145

'

'

136

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Loss on extinguishment of debt

0

41

0

'

'

'

41

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Amount of debt remained outstanding

2,355

2,309

'

'

'

0

'

59

59

'

500

499

500

500

249

248

'

350

350

72

385

25

29

239

239

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Face amount of notes

'

'

'

350

350

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

250

'

'

'

400

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Senior Notes will be recorded on the consolidated balance sheets net of debt discount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

'

'

1

'

'

1

2

1

'

'

3

15

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defer of financing costs that will be amortized to interest expense

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of principal amount of the notes being redeemed

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

100.00%

'

'

100.00%

'

100.00%

'

100.00%

'

'

100.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Variable rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.50%

Loan Repayment Subject to Penalties Made During Period of Time

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'2 years

'3 years

'

'

Percentage of purchase price of notes at their principal amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

101.00%

'

'

101.00%

'

101.00%

'

101.00%

'

'

101.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

105.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

0

0

'

'

1

'

'

1

2

1

'

'

3

15

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Maximum

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6.40%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5.88%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Price

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$11.40

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Long-term debt - related party

54

289

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

54

289

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest Expense, Related Party

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

29

31

31

'

'

'

'

'

Due to Related Parties, Current

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.5

'

'

'

'

'

'

0.5

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Term Loan Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

10

26

'

'

Overdraft and Letter of Credit Facilities, Maximum Borrowing Capacity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$3

$5

'

'

Debt_Details_Textuals_1

Debt (Details Textuals 1)	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
	Line of Credit [Member]	CGC Credit Facility CAD [Member]	CGC Credit Facility USD [Member]	CGC Credit Facility [Member]	London Interbank Offering Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
	USD ($)	CAD	USD ($)		Line of Credit [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Letters of Credit, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$250	3	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility Maximum Aggregate Principal Amount	400	40	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity after giving effect to increase	600	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	'	'	'	'	3.00%
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage	0.75%	'	'	'	'
Percentage above Libor	'	'	2.75%	'	'
Credit Agreement Covenant, Required Minimum, Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio	1.1	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility Borrowing Base over Outstanding Borrowings Minimum Amount Activating Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Covenants	40	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility Rate Applied Aggregate Revolving Commitments Activating Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Covenants	15.00%	'	'	'	'
Actual Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio	1.15	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity	252	'	37	'	'
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding	0	'	'	'	'
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate at Period End	3.30%	'	'	4.00%	'
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	$73	0.8	'	'	'
Percentage above Prime Rate	'	1.25%	'	'	'
Percentage above Bankers Acceptance Discount Rate	'	2.75%	'	'	'
Percentage above Base Rate	'	'	1.25%	'	'

Derivative_Instruments_Details

Derivative Instruments (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Pretax effects of derivative instruments on consolidated statements of operations	'	'	'
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	$4	($5)	($1)
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income (Effective Portion)	1	-9	-22
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income On Derivatives	2	0	-4
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Commodity contracts [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'	'
Pretax effects of derivative instruments on consolidated statements of operations	'	'	'
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	1	-4	-3
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Commodity contracts [Member] | Cost of products sold [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'	'
Pretax effects of derivative instruments on consolidated statements of operations	'	'	'
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income (Effective Portion)	-2	-10	-17
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'	'
Pretax effects of derivative instruments on consolidated statements of operations	'	'	'
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	3	-1	2
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Net Investment Hedging [Member]	'	'	'
Pretax effects of derivative instruments on consolidated statements of operations	'	'	'
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	0	0	0
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Cost of products sold [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'	'
Pretax effects of derivative instruments on consolidated statements of operations	'	'	'
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income (Effective Portion)	3	2	-5
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Gain on Sale of Discontinued Operations [Member] | Net Investment Hedging [Member]	'	'	'
Pretax effects of derivative instruments on consolidated statements of operations	'	'	'
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income (Effective Portion)	0	-1	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Commodity contracts [Member] | Cost of products sold [Member]	'	'	'
Pretax effects of derivative instruments on consolidated statements of operations	'	'	'
Amount of Gain or (Loss) Recognized in Income On Derivatives	$2	$0	($4)

Derivative_Instruments_Details1

Derivative Instruments (Details 1) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Gain (Loss), Net	$2	$0	($4)
Fair values of derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheets	'	'	'
Derivative Assets	5	3	'
Derivative Liabilities	0	2	'
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'	'
Fair values of derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheets	'	'	'
Derivative Assets	3	2	'
Derivative Liabilities	0	2	'
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'	'
Fair values of derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheets	'	'	'
Derivative Assets	2	1	'
Derivative Liabilities	0	0	'
Commodity contracts [Member] | Other current assets [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'	'
Fair values of derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheets	'	'	'
Derivative Assets	2	1	'
Commodity contracts [Member] | Accrued expenses [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'	'
Fair values of derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheets	'	'	'
Derivative Liabilities	0	0	'
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Commodity contracts [Member] | Other current assets [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'	'
Fair values of derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheets	'	'	'
Derivative Assets	2	1	'
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Commodity contracts [Member] | Accrued expenses [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'	'
Fair values of derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheets	'	'	'
Derivative Liabilities	0	2	'
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Other current assets [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'	'
Fair values of derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheets	'	'	'
Derivative Assets	1	1	'
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Accrued expenses [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'	'
Fair values of derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheets	'	'	'
Derivative Liabilities	0	0	'
Other Expense Income Net [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'	'
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Gain (Loss), Net	$0	$0	$0

Derivative_Instruments_Details2

Derivative Instruments (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Derivative Instruments (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	$1	($9)	($22)
Net asset position of derivatives	5	'	'
Collateral provided to counterparties related to derivatives	'	1	'
Commodity contracts [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount	14,000,000	'	'
Derivative Instruments (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Loss on Cash Flow Hedge Ineffectiveness	0	'	'
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Asset, at Fair Value	2	'	'
Foreign exchange contracts two [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Loss on Cash Flow Hedge Ineffectiveness	0	'	'
Notional amounts of foreign exchange forward contracts	58	'	'
Foreign Currency Cash Flow Hedge Asset at Fair Value	1	'	'
Foreign exchange contract three [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Notional amounts of foreign exchange forward contracts	'	25	'
Amount of Ineffectiveness on Net Investment Hedges	'	0	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	'	1	'
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Commodity contracts [Member]	'	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax	$1	'	'

Fair_Value_Measurements_Detail

Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Cash equivalents	$573	$330
Marketable securities, Fair value	142	131
Derivative Assets	5	3
Derivative Liability Fair Value Gross Liability	0	-2
Corporate debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	87	82
U.S. government and agency debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	12	16
Non-U.S. government debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	0	1
Asset-backed debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	20	6
Certificates of deposit [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	17	16
Municipal debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	6	10
Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Cash equivalents	549	284
Derivative Assets	0	0
Derivative Liability Fair Value Gross Liability	0	0
Level 1 [Member] | Corporate debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	0	0
Level 1 [Member] | U.S. government and agency debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	0	0
Level 1 [Member] | Non-U.S. government debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	0	0
Level 1 [Member] | Asset-backed debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	0	0
Level 1 [Member] | Certificates of deposit [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	0	0
Level 1 [Member] | Municipal debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	0	0
Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Cash equivalents	24	46
Derivative Assets	5	3
Derivative Liability Fair Value Gross Liability	0	-2
Level 2 [Member] | Corporate debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	87	82
Level 2 [Member] | U.S. government and agency debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	12	16
Level 2 [Member] | Non-U.S. government debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	0	1
Level 2 [Member] | Asset-backed debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	20	6
Level 2 [Member] | Certificates of deposit [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	17	16
Level 2 [Member] | Municipal debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	6	10
Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Cash equivalents	0	0
Derivative Assets	0	0
Derivative Liability Fair Value Gross Liability	0	0
Level 3 [Member] | Corporate debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	0	0
Level 3 [Member] | U.S. government and agency debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	0	0
Level 3 [Member] | Non-U.S. government debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	0	0
Level 3 [Member] | Asset-backed debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	0	0
Level 3 [Member] | Certificates of deposit [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	0	0
Level 3 [Member] | Municipal debt securities [Member]	'	'
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair value	$0	$0

Fair_Value_Measurements_Detail1

Fair Value Measurements (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	$0	$8	$53
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	2,103	2,100	'
Property, Plant, and Equipment, Fair Value Disclosure	'	6	6
Asset Retirement Obligation, Revision of Estimate	-11	17	'
Other long lived impairment [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	0	1	0
Closed Gypsum Quarry and Ship Loading Facility [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	0	7	53
Asset Retirement Obligation Impairment [Member] | Closed Gypsum Quarry and Ship Loading Facility [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	'	7	11
Windsor [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	'	'	59
Windsor [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Asset Retirement Obligation, Revision of Estimate	'	$7	'

Employee_Retirement_Plans_Deta

Employee Retirement Plans (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Pension [Member]	'	'	'
Components of net pension and postretirement benefits costs	'	'	'
Service cost of benefits earned	$38	$32	$28
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	63	64	63
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Return on Plan Assets	-76	-70	-65
Defined Benefit Plan, Recognized Net Gain (Loss) Due to Settlements	16	0	2
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses)	43	34	24
Net cost	84	60	52
Postretirement [Member]	'	'	'
Components of net pension and postretirement benefits costs	'	'	'
Service cost of benefits earned	3	3	6
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	7	8	14
Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses)	-34	-35	-22
Net cost	($24)	($24)	($2)

Employee_Retirement_Plans_Deta1

Employee Retirement Plans (Details 1) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Pension Plans with Accumulated Benefit Obligations in Excess of Plan Assets, Aggregate Accumulated Benefit Obligation	($32)	($1,368)
Defined Benefit Plan, Pension Plans with Accumulated Benefit Obligations in Excess of Plan Assets, Aggregate Fair Value of Plan Assets	3	1,131
Defined Benefit Plan, Plans with Benefit Obligations in Excess of Plan Assets, Aggregate Benefit Obligation	-1,146	-1,536
Defined Benefit Plan, Plans with Benefit Obligations in Excess of Plan Assets, Aggregate Fair Value of Plan Assets	$1,021	$1,133

Employee_Retirement_Plans_Deta2

Employee Retirement Plans (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	$1,262	$1,133	'
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Pension and other postretirement benefits	-14	-16	'
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent	-277	-573	'
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Status of Plan	-114	-403	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	1,536	1,334	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Service Cost	38	32	28
Defined Benefit Plan, Interest Cost	63	64	63
Defined Benefit Plan Recognized Net Gain Loss Due to Curtailment Settlements	-103	0	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Plan Participants	10	9	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid	-38	-75	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Amendments	1	1	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Actuarial Gain (Loss)	-115	164	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Gain (Loss)	-16	7	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	1,376	1,536	1,334
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	1,133	965	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Return on Plan Assets	203	162	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer	71	66	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Changes, Plan Assets	-14	6	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	1,262	1,133	965
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits, Noncurrent	11	0	'
Pension and other postretirement benefits	-1	-2	'
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent	-124	-401	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet	-114	-403	'
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax [Abstract]	'	'	'
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Gains (Losses), before Tax	259	563	'
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Prior Service Cost (Credit), before Tax	0	1	'
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax	259	564	'
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Funded Status of Plan	-166	-186	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	186	174	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Service Cost	3	3	6
Defined Benefit Plan, Interest Cost	7	8	14
Defined Benefit Plan Recognized Net Gain Loss Due to Curtailment Settlements	0	0	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Plan Participants	8	8	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid	-21	-22	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Amendments	0	0	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Actuarial Gain (Loss)	-13	13	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Gain (Loss)	-4	2	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	166	186	174
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Return on Plan Assets	0	0	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer	13	14	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Changes, Plan Assets	0	0	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	0
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities [Abstract]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets for Plan Benefits, Noncurrent	0	0	'
Pension and other postretirement benefits	-13	-14	'
Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent	-153	-172	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet	-166	-186	'
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax [Abstract]	'	'	'
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Gains (Losses), before Tax	21	37	'
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Prior Service Cost (Credit), before Tax	-179	-215	'
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax	($158)	($178)	'

Employee_Retirement_Plans_Deta3

Employee Retirement Plans (Details 3)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Benefit Obligation, Discount Rate	4.90%	4.20%	4.95%
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Benefit Obligation, Rate of Compensation Increase	3.50%	3.40%	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Discount Rate	4.20%	4.95%	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Expected Long-term Return on Assets	7.00%	7.00%	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Rate of Compensation Increase	3.40%	3.30%	'
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Benefit Obligation, Discount Rate	4.60%	3.95%	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Discount Rate	3.95%	4.50%	'

Employee_Retirement_Plans_Deta4

Employee Retirement Plans (Details 4) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Effect of One Percentage Point Increase on Service and Interest Cost Components	$0
Defined Benefit Plan, Effect of One Percentage Point Decrease on Service and Interest Cost Components	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Effect of One Percentage Point Increase on Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation	11
Defined Benefit Plan, Effect of One Percentage Point Decrease on Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation	($9)

Employee_Retirement_Plans_Deta5

Employee Retirement Plans (Details 5)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Defined Benefit Plan Target Allocation Percentage of Assets	100.00%
Equity Securities [Member]	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Target Plan Asset Allocations	61.00%
Defined Benefit Plan, Target Plan Asset Allocations Range Minimum	48.00%
Defined Benefit Plan, Target Plan Asset Allocations Range Maximum	70.00%
Fixed Income Funds [Member]	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Target Plan Asset Allocations	23.00%
Defined Benefit Plan, Target Plan Asset Allocations Range Minimum	14.00%
Defined Benefit Plan, Target Plan Asset Allocations Range Maximum	32.00%
Limited Partner [Member]	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Target Plan Asset Allocations	12.00%
Defined Benefit Plan Target Allocation Percentage of Assets Limited Partnerships Range Minimum	4.00%
Defined Benefit Plan Target Allocation Percentage of Assets Limited Partnerships Range Maximum	20.00%
Real Estate [Member]	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Target Plan Asset Allocations	4.00%
Defined Benefit Plan, Target Plan Asset Allocations Range Minimum	0.00%
Defined Benefit Plan, Target Plan Asset Allocations Range Maximum	10.00%
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Defined Benefit Plan Target Allocation Percentage of Assets Cash Equivalents and Short Term Investments	0.00%
Defined Benefit Plan Target Allocation Percentage of Assets Cash Equivalents and Short Term Investments Range Minimum	0.00%
Defined Benefit Plan Target Allocation Percentage of Assets Cash Equivalents and Short Term Investments Range Maximum	8.00%

Employee_Retirement_Plans_Deta6

Employee Retirement Plans (Details 6) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	$1,262	$1,133	'
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	75	82	122
Common and Preferred Stock [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	293	273	'
Common and Preferred Stock [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	293	273	'
Common and Preferred Stock [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
Common and Preferred Stock [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
Parent Common Stock [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	12	'
Parent Common Stock [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	'	12	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Number of Shares of Equity Securities Issued by Employer and Related Parties Included in Plan Assets	0	'	'
Parent Common Stock [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
Parent Common Stock [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
Commingled Pooled Mutual Funds [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	527	436	'
Commingled Pooled Mutual Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	131	112	'
Commingled Pooled Mutual Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	396	324	'
Commingled Pooled Mutual Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
Equity Securities [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	820	721	'
Equity Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	424	397	'
Equity Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	396	324	'
Equity Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	23	20	'
US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	23	20	'
US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
Non Us Government and Agency Debt [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	15	15	'
Non Us Government and Agency Debt [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
Non Us Government and Agency Debt [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	15	15	'
Non Us Government and Agency Debt [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	25	19	'
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	25	19	'
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
Commingled Pooled Funds [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	279	227	'
Commingled Pooled Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
Commingled Pooled Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	279	227	'
Commingled Pooled Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
Other Credit Derivatives [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	2	1	'
Other Credit Derivatives [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
Other Credit Derivatives [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	1	0	'
Other Credit Derivatives [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	1	1	'
Fixed Income Funds [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	344	282	'
Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	343	281	'
Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	1	1	1
Limited Partner [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	39	45	'
Limited Partner [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
Limited Partner [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
Limited Partner [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	39	45	88
Real Estate [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	35	36	'
Real Estate [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
Real Estate [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
Real Estate [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	35	36	33
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	22	45	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	22	45	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0	0	'
Fair Value of Plan Assets Other than Receivable and Accounts Payable [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	1,260	1,129	'
Fair Value of Plan Assets Other than Receivable and Accounts Payable [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	424	397	'
Fair Value of Plan Assets Other than Receivable and Accounts Payable [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	761	650	'
Fair Value of Plan Assets Other than Receivable and Accounts Payable [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	75	82	'
Cash [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	3	0	'
Accounts Receivable [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets Receivables	0	5	'
Accounts Payable [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets Accounts Payable	($1)	($1)	'

Employee_Retirement_Plans_Deta7

Employee Retirement Plans (Details 7) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	$1,262	$1,133
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	82	122
Defined Benefit Plan Recognized Gain Loss	6	11
Defined Benefit Plan Un Recognized Gain Loss	1	-7
Defined Benefit Plans, Purchases, Plan Assets	0	4
Defined Benefit Plan, Sales, Plan Assets	-14	-48
Defined Benefit Plan, Settlements, Plan Assets	0	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	75	82
Fixed Income Funds [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	344	282
Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	1	1
Defined Benefit Plan Recognized Gain Loss	0	0
Defined Benefit Plan Un Recognized Gain Loss	0	0
Defined Benefit Plans, Purchases, Plan Assets	0	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Sales, Plan Assets	0	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Settlements, Plan Assets	0	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	1	1
Limited Partner [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	39	45
Limited Partner [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	45	88
Defined Benefit Plan Recognized Gain Loss	5	10
Defined Benefit Plan Un Recognized Gain Loss	-1	-8
Defined Benefit Plans, Purchases, Plan Assets	0	3
Defined Benefit Plan, Sales, Plan Assets	-10	-48
Defined Benefit Plan, Settlements, Plan Assets	0	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	39	45
Real Estate [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	35	36
Real Estate [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	36	33
Defined Benefit Plan Recognized Gain Loss	1	1
Defined Benefit Plan Un Recognized Gain Loss	2	1
Defined Benefit Plans, Purchases, Plan Assets	0	1
Defined Benefit Plan, Sales, Plan Assets	-4	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Settlements, Plan Assets	0	0
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	$35	$36

Employee_Retirement_Plans_Deta8

Employee Retirement Plans (Details 8) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Pension [Member]	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]	'
2014	$72
2015	79
2016	84
2017	83
2018	100
2019 - 2023	558
Postretirement [Member]	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]	'
2014	13
2015	10
2016	11
2017	11
2018	12
2019 - 2023	$53

Employee_Retirement_Plans_Deta9

Employee Retirement Plans (Details Textual) (USD $)

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2010

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Jun. 25, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2014

Pension [Member]

Pension [Member]

Pension [Member]

Postretirement [Member]

Postretirement [Member]

United States Pension Plans of US Entity, Defined Benefit [Member]

United States Pension Plans of US Entity, Defined Benefit [Member]

United States Pension Plans of US Entity, Defined Benefit [Member]

United States Pension Plans of US Entity, Defined Benefit [Member]

United States Postretirement Benefit Plans of US Entity, Defined Benefit [Member]

United States Postretirement Benefit Plans of US Entity, Defined Benefit [Member]

Foreign Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]

Foreign Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]

Subsequent Event [Member]

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Benefit Plan, Recognized Net Gain (Loss) Due to Settlements

'

'

'

'

($16)

$0

($2)

'

'

'

($15)

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Benefit Plan, Settlements, Benefit Obligation

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

80

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Benefit Plan, Effect of Plan Amendment on Accumulated Benefit Obligation

'

'

100

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Prescription Drug Benefit, Reduction in Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation for Subsidy

'

'

'

47

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Benefit Plan, Accumulated Benefit Obligation

1,186

1,370

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Benefit Plan, Actuarial Gain (Loss)

'

'

'

'

-115

164

'

-13

13

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Benefit Obligation, Discount Rate

'

'

'

'

4.90%

4.20%

4.95%

4.60%

3.95%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Net Gains (Losses)

'

'

'

'

-22

'

'

-1

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)

'

'

'

'

1

'

'

-36

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Benefit Plan, Health Care Cost Trend Rate Assumed for Next Fiscal Year

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

8.00%

7.10%

8.50%

8.75%

'

Defined Benefit Plan, Ultimate Health Care Cost Trend Rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

5.00%

5.25%

4.00%

4.00%

'

Annual Increase to Contributions Health Care Cost

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.00%

'

'

'

'

Minimum Funded Percentage of Accumulated Benefit Obligations for Maintaining Plan Asset Level

100.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Expected Long-term Return on Assets

'

'

'

'

7.00%

7.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Contribution by employer

'

'

'

'

71

66

'

13

14

20.6

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Benefit Plan, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year

'

'

'

'

59

'

'

13

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Employee Retirement Plans (Additional Textual) [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Contribution by employer in Common stock

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,249,219

'

'

'

'

'

Closing Price Per Share of Contributed Shares to Retirement Plan Trust

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$16.48

'

'

'

'

'

Discounted value shares valued for purposes of crediting the contribution to trust

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$16.01

'

'

'

'

'

Rate at which shares valued for purposes of crediting the contribution to trust

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$16.48

'

'

'

'

'

Discount rate used to valued shares for purposes of crediting the contribution to the Trust

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

2.80%

'

'

'

'

'

Aggregate Contribution by employer

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

20

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Benefit Plan, Number of Shares of Equity Securities Issued by Employer and Related Parties Included in Plan Assets

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

424,219

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Benefit Plan Percentage of Investment in Common Stock

82.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Contribution Plans Disclosure [Abstract]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized

$3

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Contribution Plan Employee Minimum Contribution Percentage

1.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Contribution Plan Employee Maximum Contribution Percentage

50.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Defined Contribution Plan, Number of Investment Options Offered

21

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Employees earned a guaranteed company on contributions

10.00%

10.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

25.00%

Employees Earned a Guaranteed Company Match on Eligible Compensation Maximum

6.00%

6.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6.00%

Vested Period Company Matching Contributions for Employee

'3 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Share_Based_Compensation_Detai

Share Based Compensation (Details) (Employee Stock Option [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Employee Stock Option [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award	'	'
Expected volatility	59.03%	55.88%
Risk-free rate	1.24%	2.85%
Expected term (in years)	'6 years 3 months 2 days	'6 years 3 months
Expected dividends	$0	$0

Share_Based_Compensation_Detai1

Share Based Compensation (Details 1) (Employee Stock Option [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Employee Stock Option [Member]	'	'
Options Activity, Number of Options	'	'
Outstanding at January 1	5,063	'
Exercised	-377	'
Canceled	-197	'
Forfeited	0	'
Outstanding at December 31	4,489	5,063
Exercisable at December 31	3,602	'
Option Activity, Weighted Average Exercise Price	'	'
Outstanding at January 1	$25.02	'
Exercised	$10.34	'
Canceled	$41.28	'
Forfeited	$0	'
Outstanding at December 31	$25.54	$25.02
Exercisable at December 31	$27.98	'
Options Activity, Weighted Remaining Contractual Term and Aggregate Intrisic Value	'	'
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term, Outstanding at January 1	'5 years 2 months 15 days	'6 years 2 months 4 days
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term, Outstanding at December 31, 2012	'5 years 2 months 15 days	'6 years 2 months 4 days
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term, Exercisable at December 31, 2012	'5 years 6 months 2 days	'
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Outstanding at January 1	$45	'
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Outstanding at December 31	39	45
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Exercisable at December 31	28	'
Options Activity, Vested and Expected to Vest	'	'
Number of Options, Vested and Expected to Vest at December 31	4,482	'
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Vested and Expected to Vest at December 31	$25.55	'
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term, Vested and Expected to Vest at December 31	'5 years 2 months 12 days	'
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Vested and Expected to Vest at December 31	$39	'

Share_Based_Compensation_Detai2

Share Based Compensation (Details 2) (Market Share Units [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Market Share Units [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award	'
Expected volatility	60.97%
Risk-free rate	0.35%
Expected term (in years)	'2 years 4 months 17 days
Expected dividends	$0

Share_Based_Compensation_Detai3

Share Based Compensation (Details 3) (Market Share Units [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Market Share Units [Member]	'
Nonvested Award Activity, Number of Awards	'
Nonvested at January 1	0
Granted	361,000
Vested	0
Forfeited	-2,000
Nonvested at December 31	359,000
Nonvested Award Activity, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	'
Nonvested at January 1	$0
Granted	$34.55
Vested	$0
Forfeited	$34.55
Nonvested at December 31	$34.55

Share_Based_Compensation_Detai4

Share Based Compensation (Details 4) (Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	'
Nonvested Award Activity, Number of Awards	'
Nonvested at January 1	1,249,000
Granted	39,500
Vested	-487,000
Forfeited	-2,000
Nonvested at December 31	800,000
Nonvested Award Activity, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	'
Nonvested at January 1	$14.74
Granted	$29.44
Vested	$13.54
Forfeited	$30.31
Nonvested at December 31	$16.15

Share_Based_Compensation_Detai5

Share Based Compensation (Details 5) (Performance Shares [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Performance Shares [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award	'	'	'
Expected volatility	59.98%	67.63%	77.84%
Risk-free rate	0.43%	0.36%	1.20%
Expected term (in years)	'2 years 10 months 17 days	'2 years 10 months 21 days	'2 years 10 months 21 days
Expected dividends	$0	$0	$0

Share_Based_Compensation_Detai6

Share Based Compensation (Details 6) (Performance Shares [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2011
Performance Shares [Member]	'	'
Nonvested Award Activity, Number of Awards	'	'
Nonvested at January 1	360,000	'
Granted	105,000	227,539
Vested	-152,000	'
Forfeited	-5,000	'
Nonvested at December 31	308,000	'
Nonvested Award Activity, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	'	'
Nonvested at January 1	$25.29	'
Granted	$38.89	'
Vested	$28.40	'
Forfeited	$26.10	'
Nonvested at December 31	$28.36	'

Share_Based_Compensation_Detai7

Share Based Compensation (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation Awards	'	'	'
Number of Shares Authorized for Grant Under the LTIP	12,700,000	'	'
Number of Shares Available for Future Grant Under the LTIP	3,200,000	'	'
Share-based Compensation Expense	$19,000,000	$17,000,000	$21,000,000
Tax Benefit from Compensation Expense	0	0	0
Options, Additional Disclosures	'	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards	2,067,000,000	'	'
Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'
Share Based Compensation	'	'	'
Share Based Compensation Arrangement by Share Based Payment Award Vesting Installments	4	'	'
Vesting period	'1 year	'	'
Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized on Nonvested Awards	2,000,000	'	'
Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized on Nonvested Awards, Period for Recognition	'1 year 11 months	'	'
Options, Additional Disclosures	'	'	'
Share Based Compensation Arrangement by Share Based Payment Award Award Expiration Period	'10 years	'	'
Historical Expected Volatility	50.00%	'	'
Implied Expected Volatility	50.00%	'	'
Fair Value of Stock Option Granted	'	$8.39	$10.60
Total Intrinsic Value of Option Exercises in Period	7,000,000	7,000,000	1,000,000
Cash Received from Exercise of Stock Options	4,000,000	4,000,000	1,000,000
Tax Benefit from Option Exercises Recorded in Additional Paid	0	'	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards	47,000,000	'	'
Unrecognized Tax Benefits Resulting in Net Operating Loss Carryforward	17,000,000	'	'
Fair Value of Options Vested in Period	10,000,000	5,000,000	14,000,000
Market Share Units [Member]	'	'	'
Share Based Compensation	'	'	'
Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized on Nonvested Awards	2,000,000	'	'
Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized on Nonvested Awards, Period for Recognition	'1 year 7 months	'	'
Equity Instruments Other than Options, Additional Disclosures	'	'	'
Shares granted	361,000	'	'
Market Share Units [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Share Based Compensation	'	'	'
Vesting period	'3 years	'	'
Equity Instruments Other than Options, Additional Disclosures	'	'	'
Maximum of Performance Shares to be Earned	150.00%	'	'
Market Share Units [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'	'	'
Share Based Compensation	'	'	'
Vesting period	'2 years	'	'
Equity Instruments Other than Options, Additional Disclosures	'	'	'
Minimum of Performance Shares to be Earned	0.00%	'	'
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	'	'	'
Share Based Compensation	'	'	'
Share Based Compensation Arrangement by Share Based Payment Award Vesting Installments	4	'	'
Vesting period	'4 years	'	'
Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized on Nonvested Awards	4,000,000	'	'
Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized on Nonvested Awards, Period for Recognition	'2 years	'	'
Equity Instruments Other than Options, Additional Disclosures	'	'	'
Shares granted	39,500	'	'
Fair Value of Equity Instruments Other than Options Vested in Period	7,000,000	13,000,000	5,000,000
Performance Shares [Member]	'	'	'
Share Based Compensation	'	'	'
Vesting period	'3 years	'	'
Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized on Nonvested Awards	4,000,000	'	'
Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized on Nonvested Awards, Period for Recognition	'1 year 8 months	'	'
Equity Instruments Other than Options, Additional Disclosures	'	'	'
Shares granted	105,000	'	227,539
Fair Value of Equity Instruments Other than Options Vested in Period	152,295	'	'
Number of Shares Vested Due to Performance Measures	202,857	'	'
Performance Shares [Member] | Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Equity Instruments Other than Options, Additional Disclosures	'	'	'
Maximum of Performance Shares to be Earned	200.00%	'	'
Performance Shares [Member] | Minimum [Member]	'	'	'
Equity Instruments Other than Options, Additional Disclosures	'	'	'
Minimum of Performance Shares to be Earned	0.00%	'	'
Non Employee Director Deferred Stock [Member]	'	'	'
Equity Instruments Other than Options, Additional Disclosures	'	'	'
Deferred Shares Held by Board of Directors	182,632	172,124	163,627
Compensation Expense on Deferred Shares Held by Board of Directors	$1,000,000	$3,000,000	$0

Supplemental_Balance_Sheet_Inf2

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Inventory, Net [Abstract]	'	'
Finished goods and work in progress	$270	$245
Raw materials	62	59
Total	$332	$304

Supplemental_Balance_Sheet_Inf3

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Details 1) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'	'
Land and mineral deposits	$181	$151
Buildings and improvements	1,139	1,132
Machinery and equipment	2,623	2,555
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	3,943	3,838
Reserves for depreciation and depletion	-1,840	-1,738
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	2,103	2,100
Annual depreciation and depletion expense	$135	$136

Supplemental_Balance_Sheet_Inf4

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Details 2) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Accrued Liabilities, Current [Abstract]	'	'
Self-insurance reserves	$22	$25
Employee compensation	58	71
Interest Payable	48	47
Restructuring	3	8
Derivatives	0	2
Pension and other postretirement benefits	14	16
Environmental	18	14
Other	53	54
Accrued Liabilities, Current	$216	$237

Supplemental_Balance_Sheet_Inf5

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Details 3) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	($233)	($174)	($50)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	234	-64	-146
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	-23	-5	22
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	257	-59	-124
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	24	-233	-174
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax [Abstract]	'	'	'
Cost of products sold	2,989	2,829	2,752
Selling and administrative expenses	320	304	289
Income tax expense (benefit)	11	12	-14
Net income (loss)	46	-125	-390
Derivatives [Member]	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	32	28	8
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	4	-5	0
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	1	-9	-20
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	3	4	20
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	35	32	28
Derivatives [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	'	'	'
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax [Abstract]	'	'	'
Cost of products sold	-1	'	'
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	'	'
Net income (loss)	-1	'	'
Defined Benefit Plans [Member]	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	-303	221	106
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	247	-81	-117
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	-24	1	-2
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	271	-82	-115
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	-32	-303	221
Defined Benefit Plans [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	'	'	'
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, before Tax [Abstract]	'	'	'
Cost of products sold	19	'	'
Selling and administrative expenses	7	'	'
Income tax expense (benefit)	-2	'	'
Net income (loss)	24	'	'
Foreign Currency Translation [Member]	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	38	19	48
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	-17	22	-29
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	0	3	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-17	19	-29
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	$21	$38	$19

Supplemental_Balance_Sheet_Inf6

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Details 4) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance as of January 1	$139	$114
Accretion expense	8	10
Liabilities incurred	3	3
Changes in estimated cash flows	-11	17
Liabilities settled	-4	-5
Foreign currency translation	-3	0
Balance as of December 31	$132	$139

Supplemental_Balance_Sheet_Inf7

Supplemental Balance Sheet Information (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale [Line Items]	'	'
Changes in estimated cash flows	($11)	$17
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassification from Accumulated OCI to Income, Estimated Net Amount to be Transferred	1	'
Windsor [Member]	'	'
Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale [Line Items]	'	'
Changes in estimated cash flows	'	$7

Restructuring_and_LongLived_As2

Restructuring and Long-Lived Asset Impairment Charges (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Long-lived asset impairment	'	$0	$8	$53
Asset Impairment Related To Write Down Of Inventory	'	0	0	2
Severance	'	2	6	7
Lease Obligation	'	-1	0	4
Other exit costs	'	2	4	9
Total	13	3	18	75
Closed Gypsum Quarry and Ship Loading Facility [Member]	'	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Long-lived asset impairment	'	0	7	53
Other long lived impairment [Member]	'	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Long-lived asset impairment	'	$0	$1	$0

Restructuring_and_LongLived_As3

Restructuring and Long-Lived Asset Impairment Charges (Details 1) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Balance as of January 1	$20	$34	$49
Charges, Total	3	18	75
Cash Payments	-12	-24	-35
Asset impairment	0	-8	-55
Balance as of December 31	11	20	34
Severance [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Balance as of January 1	5	4	11
Charges, Total	2	6	7
Cash Payments	-6	-5	-14
Asset impairment	0	0	0
Balance as of December 31	1	5	4
Lease Obligations [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Balance as of January 1	15	21	29
Charges, Total	-1	0	4
Cash Payments	-4	-6	-12
Asset impairment	0	0	0
Balance as of December 31	10	15	21
Asset impairments [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Balance as of January 1	'	0	0
Charges, Total	'	8	55
Cash Payments	'	0	0
Asset impairment	'	-8	-55
Balance as of December 31	'	0	0
Other exit costs [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Balance as of January 1	0	9	9
Charges, Total	2	4	9
Cash Payments	-2	-13	-9
Asset impairment	0	0	0
Balance as of December 31	$0	$0	$9

Restructuring_and_LongLived_As4

Restructuring and Long-Lived Asset Impairment Charges (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
			Employees	Branch
				Employees
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Asset Retirement Obligation, Revision of Estimate	'	($11)	$17	'	'
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	'	0	8	53	'
Property, Plant, and Equipment, Fair Value Disclosure	6	'	6	6	'
Restructuring, Settlement and Impairment Provisions	13	3	18	75	'
Distribution branches closed	'	'	'	9	'
Salaried Employees and Open Positions Terminated	'	'	90	115	'
Hourly Employees and Open Positions Terminated	'	'	40	90	'
Restructuring Reserve (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'
Total restructuring reserve	20	11	20	34	49
Restructuring Payments Due Current	'	3	'	'	'
Restructuring Payments Due in Two Years	'	3	'	'	'
Restructuring Payments Due Thereafter	'	5	'	'	'
Restructuring Reserve, Settled with Cash	'	12	24	35	'
North American Gypsum [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Expected Restructuring-related future payments	'	1	'	'	'
Restructuring, Settlement and Impairment Provisions	'	3	15	67	'
Building Products Distribution [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Expected Restructuring-related future payments	'	8	'	'	'
Restructuring, Settlement and Impairment Provisions	'	-1	0	7	'
Worldwide Ceilings [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Restructuring, Settlement and Impairment Provisions	'	0	1	0	'
Corporate [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Expected Restructuring-related future payments	'	2	'	'	'
Restructuring, Settlement and Impairment Provisions	'	1	2	1	'
Closed Gypsum Quarry and Ship Loading Facility [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	'	0	7	53	'
Restructuring Write Down of Asset [Member] | Closed Gypsum Quarry and Ship Loading Facility [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	'	'	'	42	'
Asset Retirement Obligation Impairment [Member] | Closed Gypsum Quarry and Ship Loading Facility [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	'	'	$7	$11	'

Segments_Details

Segments (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Net Sales:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	$915	$925	$916	$814	$815	$828	$798	$783	$3,570	$3,224	$2,910
Operating Profit (Loss):	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating profit (loss)	60	75	74	49	-8	29	28	24	258	73	-206
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	155	156	164
Capital Expenditures:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Capital expenditures	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	124	70	54
Assets	4,121	'	'	'	3,723	'	'	'	4,121	3,723	3,719
North American Gypsum [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net Sales:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	2,249	1,963	1,695
Operating Profit (Loss):	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating profit (loss)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	264	115	-136
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	114	113	120
Capital Expenditures:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Capital expenditures	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	66	50	45
Assets	2,910	'	'	'	2,926	'	'	'	2,910	2,926	2,946
Worldwide Ceilings [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net Sales:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	625	600	583
Operating Profit (Loss):	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating profit (loss)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	94	83	82
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	15	15	15
Capital Expenditures:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Capital expenditures	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	54	14	5
Assets	521	'	'	'	389	'	'	'	521	389	347
Building Products Distribution [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net Sales:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,245	1,145	1,060
Operating Profit (Loss):	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating profit (loss)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	6	-33	-68
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	12	12	12
Capital Expenditures:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Capital expenditures	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	3	5	3
Assets	405	'	'	'	369	'	'	'	405	369	366
Corporate [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating Profit (Loss):	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating profit (loss)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-92	-83	-80
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	14	16	17
Capital Expenditures:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Capital expenditures	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1	1	1
Assets	376	'	'	'	105	'	'	'	376	105	73
Discontinued Operations [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Capital Expenditures:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Assets	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	35
Eliminations [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net Sales:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-549	-484	-428
Operating Profit (Loss):	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Operating profit (loss)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-14	-9	-4
Capital Expenditures:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Assets	($91)	'	'	'	($66)	'	'	'	($91)	($66)	($48)

Segments_Details_1

Segments (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	$915	$925	$916	$814	$815	$828	$798	$783	$3,570	$3,224	$2,910
Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Long-Lived Assets	2,103	'	'	'	2,100	'	'	'	2,103	2,100	'
United States [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	3,029	2,702	2,437
Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Long-Lived Assets	1,691	'	'	'	1,721	'	'	'	1,691	1,721	'
Canada [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	417	408	383
Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Long-Lived Assets	128	'	'	'	135	'	'	'	128	135	'
Other Foreign [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	309	288	246
Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Long-Lived Assets	284	'	'	'	244	'	'	'	284	244	'
Geographic Transfers [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	($185)	($174)	($156)

Segments_Details_2

Segments (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information, Additional Information [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Restructuring, Settlement and Impairment Provisions	$13	$3	$18	$75
North American Gypsum [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information, Additional Information [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Restructuring, Settlement and Impairment Provisions	'	3	15	67
Worldwide Ceilings [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information, Additional Information [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Restructuring, Settlement and Impairment Provisions	'	0	1	0
Building Products Distribution [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information, Additional Information [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Restructuring, Settlement and Impairment Provisions	'	-1	0	7
Corporate [Member]	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information, Additional Information [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Restructuring, Settlement and Impairment Provisions	'	$1	$2	$1

Segments_Details_Textual

Segments (Details Textual)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'	'	'
Entity-Wide Revenue, Major Customer, Percentage	15.00%	15.00%	15.00%

Income_Taxes_Details

Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	'	'	'
U.S.	$17	($198)	($367)
Foreign	42	28	-43
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	$59	($170)	($410)

Income_Taxes_Details_1

Income Taxes (Details 1) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current	'	'	'
Federal	$0	$0	($5)
Foreign	10	8	1
State	1	0	0
Current Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	11	8	-4
Deferred	'	'	'
Federal	-2	3	0
Foreign	2	1	-11
State	0	0	1
Deferred Tax Expense (Benefit)	0	4	-10
Total	$11	$12	($14)

Income_Taxes_Details_2

Income Taxes (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Differences between actual provisions for income taxes and provisions for income taxes at the U.S. federal statutory rate (35%)	'	'	'
Taxes on income (loss) from continuing operations at U.S. federal statutory rate	$21	($60)	($143)
Foreign earnings subject to different tax rates	-6	-5	5
State income tax, net of federal benefit	1	-6	-18
Change in valuation allowance	-8	76	149
Change in unrecognized tax benefits	0	0	-7
Withholding taxes on dividends between foreign entities	6	0	0
Other, net	-3	7	0
Total	$11	$12	($14)
Effective income tax rate	18.60%	-7.10%	3.40%

Income_Taxes_Details_3

Income Taxes (Details 3) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Deferred Tax Assets:	'	'
Net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards	$1,043	$1,066
Pension and postretirement benefits	110	226
Goodwill and other intangible assets	33	36
Reserves not deductible until paid	31	33
Self insurance	15	12
Capitalized interest	12	13
Inventories	8	8
Share-based compensation	35	32
Deferred tax assets before valuation allowance	1,287	1,426
Valuation allowance	-995	-1,125
Total deferred tax assets	292	301
Deferred Tax Liabilities:	'	'
Property, plant and equipment	290	285
Other	-1	3
Total deferred tax liabilities	289	288
Net deferred tax (liabilities) assets	$3	$13

Income_Taxes_Details_4

Income Taxes (Details 4) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits	'	'	'
Balance as of January 1	$16	$12	$34
Tax positions related to the current period, Gross increase	4	2	0
Tax positions related to the current period, Gross decrease	0	0	0
Tax positions related to prior period, Gross increase	2	5	2
Tax positions related to prior period, Gross decrease	0	0	-20
Tax positions related to prior period, Settlements	0	-3	-3
Tax positions related to prior period, Lapse of statutes of limitations	0	0	-1
Balance as of December 31	$22	$16	$12

Income_Taxes_Details_Textual

Income Taxes (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Valuation Allowance [Abstract]	'	'	'
Change in valuation allowance	($8)	$76	$149
Valuation allowance	995	1,125	'
State deferred tax assets	270	'	'
Foreign deferred tax assets	2	'	'
Valuation allowance, deferred tax asset, change in amount	-130	'	'
Change in valuation allowance resulting from current year earnings	-125	'	'
Change in valuation allowance resulting from current year earnings	5	'	'
Net deferred tax assets	3	13	'
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Components [Abstract]	'	'	'
Approximate federal net operating loss carryforwards	2,067	'	'
Approximate federal alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards	45	'	'
Minimum taxable income needed to fully realize the U.S. federal net deferred tax assets	2,197	'	'
Foreign tax credit carryforwards	8	'	'
Approximate gross deferred tax assets operating loss and tax credit carry forwards that will expire in current year	11	'	'
Deferred tax assets, operating loss and tax credit carryforwards foreign	'	1	'
Percentage of change in ownership	50.00%	'	'
Period of change in ownership	'3 years	'	'
Long-term tax-exempt rate	3.50%	'	'
Time period after the change in which amount of the limitation be increased or decreased by built-in gains or losses	'5 years	'	'
Net Operating Loss Limitations on Use	136	'	'
Income Tax Penalties and Interest [Abstract]	'	'	'
Total amounts of interest expense recognized on consolidated balance sheet	2	'	'
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties Accrued	1	'	'
Total amounts of interest and penalties recognized in consolidated statements of operations	0	1	-1
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate	7	7	8
Income Tax Examinations Possible Period for Resolution	'12 months	'	'
Estimated lower range for change in gross unrecognized tax benefit	0	'	'
Estimated upper range for change in gross unrecognized tax benefit	4	'	'
Income Taxes (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Income tax benefit from continuing operation	11	12	-14
Undistributed earnings	642	'	'
Estimate of the amount of deferred tax liability	26	'	'
Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Income Tax Penalties and Interest [Abstract]	'	'	'
Period of Limitations in Foreign and Us Jurisdictions	'5 years	'	'
Minimum [Member]	'	'	'
Income Tax Penalties and Interest [Abstract]	'	'	'
Period of Limitations in Foreign and Us Jurisdictions	'3 years	'	'
Domestic Tax Authority [Member]	'	'	'
Valuation Allowance [Abstract]	'	'	'
Valuation allowance	735	'	'
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]	'	'	'
Valuation Allowance [Abstract]	'	'	'
Valuation allowance	256	'	'
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]	'	'	'
Valuation Allowance [Abstract]	'	'	'
Valuation allowance	$4	'	'

Earnings_Loss_Per_Share_Detail

Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Income (loss) from continuing operations	($3)	$24	$25	$2	($64)	($30)	($59)	($29)	$48	($182)	($396)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-1	1	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to USG	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	49	-183	-396
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	-1	-1	0	0	-3	1	2	2	-2	2	6
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	'	'	'	'	55	'	'	'	0	55	0
Net income (loss) attributable to USG	($3)	$23	$25	$2	($13)	($29)	($57)	($27)	$47	($126)	($390)
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
Income (loss) from continuing operations per basic share	($0.02)	$0.23	$0.23	$0.02	($0.59)	($0.29)	($0.55)	($0.28)	$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	($0.02)	$0.22	$0.22	$0.02	($0.59)	($0.29)	($0.55)	($0.28)	$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)

Earnings_Loss_Per_Share_Detail1

Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Details 1)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Stock Compensation Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Earnings (Loss) Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings (Loss) Per Share	2.2	7.9	6.9
Convertible Debt Securities [Member] | Ten Percent Convertible Senior Notes due Two Thousand Eighteen [Member]	'	'	'
Earnings (Loss) Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'
Shares issuable upon conversion of convertible senior notes not included in computation of diluted loss per share	6.6	35.1	35.1

Earnings_Loss_Per_Share_Detail2

Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Earnings (Loss) Per Share [Line Items]	'	'
Debt Conversion, Original Debt, Amount	$314	'
Ten Percent Convertible Senior Notes due Two Thousand Eighteen [Member]	'	'
Earnings (Loss) Per Share [Line Items]	'	'
Debt Conversion, Original Debt, Amount	$325	'
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	10.00%	10.00%

Oman_Investment_Details_Textua

Oman Investment (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Noncontrolling Interest in Variable Interest Entity	'	'	'	$13
Gain or loss recognized upon initial consolidation of VIE	0	'	'	'
Amount paid for our interest in the mining rights	17	16	0	'
Changes in Noncontrolling Interest	12	12	'	'
Zawawi Gypsum LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent	55.00%	'	'	'
Percentage of noncontrolling owners in VIE	45.00%	'	'	'
Payments to fund long term loans to consolidated variable interest entity	17	'	'	'
Changes in Noncontrolling Interest	13	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Other, Gross	30	'	'	'
usg_PaymentsLifeToDateToFundLongTermLoansToConsolidatedVariableInterestEntity	3	'	'	'
USG-Zawawi Drywall LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent	50.00%	'	'	'
Percentage of noncontrolling owners in VIE	50.00%	'	'	'
Payments to fund long term loans to consolidated variable interest entity	3	'	'	'
usg_PaymentsLifeToDateToFundLongTermLoansToConsolidatedVariableInterestEntity	5	'	'	'
Co-venturer [Member] | USG-Zawawi Drywall LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
long-term loan proceeds from venture partner to consolidated variable interest entity	3	'	'	'
Co-venturer [Member] | Zawawi Gypsum LLC and USG-Zawawi Drywall LLC [Member]	'	'	'	'
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Notes Payable, Related Parties, Noncurrent	$8	$4	'	'

Stockholder_Rights_Plan_Detail

Stockholder Rights Plan (Details)	Dec. 31, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Beneficial Owner of Common Stock Percentage	4.90%
Beneficial Owner of Common Stock Percentage in Future	15.00%
Beneficial Ownership Percentage Post Standstill Period for Berkshire Hathaway	50.00%
Period of Review Shareholder Rights Plan	'3 years

Lease_Commitments_Details

Lease Commitments (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Lease Commitments [Abstract]	'
Future minimum lease payments 2014	$60
Future minimum lease payments 2015	52
Future minimum lease payments 2016	42
Future minimum lease payments 2017	37
Future minimum lease payments 2018	27
Future minimum lease payments after 2018	$65

Lease_Commitments_Textual_Deta

Lease Commitments (Textual) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Lease Commitments [Abstract]	'	'	'
Lease expense	$73	$73	$79

Litigation_Detail_Textuals

Litigation (Detail Textuals) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Affiliates of Knauf Percentage Ownership of USG Common Stock	11.00%	'
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss	$6	'
Receivables Related to Settlement	2	'
Accrual potential liability for environmental cleanup	$18	$14

Quarterly_Financial_Data_Detai

Quarterly Financial Data (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	$915	$925	$916	$814	$815	$828	$798	$783	$3,570	$3,224	$2,910
Gross Profit	151	155	151	124	85	106	102	102	581	395	158
Operating profit (loss)	60	75	74	49	-8	29	28	24	258	73	-206
Income (loss) from continuing operations	-3	24	25	2	-64	-30	-59	-29	48	-182	-396
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	-1	-1	0	0	-3	1	2	2	-2	2	6
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	'	'	'	'	55	'	'	'	0	55	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	($3)	$23	$25	$2	($13)	($29)	($57)	($27)	$47	($126)	($390)
Income (loss) from continuing operations per basic share	($0.02)	$0.23	$0.23	$0.02	($0.59)	($0.29)	($0.55)	($0.28)	$0.45	($1.72)	($3.81)
Income (loss) from continuing operations per diluted share	($0.02)	$0.22	$0.22	$0.02	($0.59)	($0.29)	($0.55)	($0.28)	$0.44	($1.72)	($3.81)

Quarterly_Financial_Data_Detai1

Quarterly Financial Data (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'
Pension Settlement	$16	'	$16	$0	$0
Restructuring, Settlement and Impairment Provisions	'	13	3	18	75
Restructuring Settlement and Impairment Provisions After Tax	'	$11	'	'	'

Schedule_II_Valuation_and_Qual1

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Member]	'	'	'
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Beginning Balance, January 1	$14	$15	$14
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged to Cost and Expense	0	7	9
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Adjustments	1	0	0
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Deductions	-5	-8	-8
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Ending Balance, December 31	10	14	15
Reserve for Cash Discount [Member]	'	'	'
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Beginning Balance, January 1	2	2	2
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged to Cost and Expense	42	38	33
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Adjustments	0	0	0
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Deductions	-42	-38	-33
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Ending Balance, December 31	2	2	2
Valuation Allowance of Deferred Tax Assets [Member]	'	'	'
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Beginning Balance, January 1	1,125	1,042	884
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged to Cost and Expense	-2	1	0
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Adjustments	0	82	158
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Deductions	-128	0	0
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Ending Balance, December 31	$995	$1,125	$1,042

Subsequent_Event_Subsequent_Ev1

Subsequent Event Subsequent Event (Details textual) (USD $)	2 Months Ended							2 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Feb. 28, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013	Feb. 28, 2014	Feb. 28, 2014	Feb. 28, 2014	Feb. 28, 2014
	Scenario, Forecast [Member]	Scenario, Forecast [Member]	Scenario, Forecast [Member]	Five Point Eight Seven Five Percent Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Twenty One [Member]	Five Point Eight Seven Five Percent Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Twenty One [Member]	Performance First Three Years [Member]	Performance First Five Years [Member]	Base purchase price [Member]	Adjustments to purchase price [Member] [Member]
	Subsequent Event [Member]	Subsequent Event [Member]	Boral [Member]			Scenario, Forecast [Member]	Scenario, Forecast [Member]	Scenario, Forecast [Member]	Scenario, Forecast [Member]
		Boral Business [Member]	Subsequent Event [Member]			Subsequent Event [Member]	Subsequent Event [Member]	Subsequent Event [Member]	Subsequent Event [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	'	50.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage by Joint Venture Partner	'	'	50.00%	'	'	'	'	'	'
Payments to Acquire Equity Method Investments	$513	'	'	'	'	'	'	$500	$13
Face amount of notes	'	'	'	350	350	'	'	'	'
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	'	'	'	5.88%	'	'	'	'	'
Equity Method Investment, Contingent Consideration Arragements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High	$75	'	'	'	'	$25	$50	'	'