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Shareholders’ equity (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 44 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Apr. 30, 2015
Mar. 26, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Aug. 01, 2011
Class of Stock [Line Items]              
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares) 195,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized 195,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized       195,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized  
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount $ 130,000us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1 $ 130,000us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1         $ 60,000us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1
Stock Repurchase Program, Additional Authorized Amount         70,000cenx_StockRepurchaseProgramAdditionalAuthorizedAmount    
Repurchase of common stock (in shares) 1,200,000us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired 5,986,521us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired          
Repurchase of common stock, aggregate purchase price 19,439us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod 69,363us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod          
Stock repurchase program, remaining authorized repurchase amount 60,637us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1 60,637us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1          
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]              
Repurchase of common stock (in shares) 1,200,000us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired 5,986,521us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired          
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]              
Class of Stock [Line Items]              
Repurchase of common stock (in shares) 0us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockMember
           
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]              
Shares, Beginning balance (in shares) 78,141us-gaap_SharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockMember
  79,620us-gaap_SharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockMember
       
Repurchase of common stock (in shares) 0us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockMember
           
Conversion of convertible preferred stock (in shares) (80)us-gaap_ConversionOfStockSharesConverted1
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockMember
  (255)us-gaap_ConversionOfStockSharesConverted1
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockMember
       
Issuance for stock compensation plans (in shares) 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockMember
  0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockMember
       
Shares, Ending balance (in shares) 78,061us-gaap_SharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockMember
78,061us-gaap_SharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockMember
79,365us-gaap_SharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertiblePreferredStockMember
       
Treasury Stock [Member]              
Class of Stock [Line Items]              
Repurchase of common stock (in shares) 1,200,000us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
           
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]              
Shares, Beginning balance (in shares) 4,786,521us-gaap_SharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
  4,786,521us-gaap_SharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
       
Repurchase of common stock (in shares) 1,200,000us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
           
Conversion of convertible preferred stock (in shares) 0us-gaap_ConversionOfStockSharesConverted1
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
  0us-gaap_ConversionOfStockSharesConverted1
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
       
Issuance for stock compensation plans (in shares) 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
  0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
       
Shares, Ending balance (in shares) 5,986,521us-gaap_SharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
5,986,521us-gaap_SharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
4,786,521us-gaap_SharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
       
Common Stock [Member]              
Class of Stock [Line Items]              
Repurchase of common stock (in shares) (1,200,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
           
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]              
Shares, Beginning balance (in shares) 89,064,582us-gaap_SharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
  88,710,277us-gaap_SharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
       
Repurchase of common stock (in shares) (1,200,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
           
Conversion of convertible preferred stock (in shares) 7,947us-gaap_ConversionOfStockSharesConverted1
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
  25,542us-gaap_ConversionOfStockSharesConverted1
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
       
Issuance for stock compensation plans (in shares) 10,828us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
  35,624us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
       
Shares, Ending balance (in shares) 87,883,357us-gaap_SharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
87,883,357us-gaap_SharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
88,771,443us-gaap_SharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
       
Subsequent Event [Member]              
Class of Stock [Line Items]              
Repurchase of common stock, aggregate purchase price       $ 7,022us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember