General	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
General [Abstract]
General	General The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Century Aluminum Company should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016. In management’s opinion, the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which are of a normal and recurring nature, that are necessary for a fair presentation of financial results for the interim periods presented. Operating results for the first nine months of 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2017. Throughout this Form 10-Q, and unless expressly stated otherwise or as the context otherwise requires, "Century Aluminum," "Century," the "Company", "we," "us," "our" and "ours" refer to Century Aluminum Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09 "Revenue From Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)" issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB"), outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The ASU is effective for Century beginning January 1, 2018. Through September 30, 2017, we have reviewed our 2017 customer contracts and drafts and amendments of our contracts that will become effective beginning January 1, 2018. Based on our assessment completed to date, other than the additional disclosure requirements, we do not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-09 to significantly change our business processes, controls and systems, or change the timing or amount of revenue recognized. We continue to monitor modifications, clarifications or interpretations undertaken by the FASB and the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and changes in our business and new arrangements, which may impact our current conclusions. We expect to adopt the standard on a modified retrospective basis.

General

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Century Aluminum Company should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016. In management’s opinion, the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which are of a normal and recurring nature, that are necessary for a fair presentation of financial results for the interim periods presented. Operating results for the first nine months of 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2017. Throughout this Form 10-Q, and unless expressly stated otherwise or as the context otherwise requires, "Century Aluminum," "Century," the "Company", "we," "us," "our" and "ours" refer to Century Aluminum Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09 "Revenue From Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)" issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB"), outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The ASU is effective for Century beginning January 1, 2018.

Through September 30, 2017, we have reviewed our 2017 customer contracts and drafts and amendments of our contracts that will become effective beginning January 1, 2018. Based on our assessment completed to date, other than the additional disclosure requirements, we do not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-09 to significantly change our business processes, controls and systems, or change the timing or amount of revenue recognized. We continue to monitor modifications, clarifications or interpretations undertaken by the FASB and the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and changes in our business and new arrangements, which may impact our current conclusions. We expect to adopt the standard on a modified retrospective basis.