Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 5,660	$ 5,326	$ 5,140	$ 4,911	$ 5,702	$ 5,418	$ 5,347	$ 4,786		$ 21,037	$ 21,253	$ 20,718
Cost of products sold	4,710	4,431	4,260	4,099	4,717	4,503	4,471	3,960		17,500	17,651	17,026
Gross margin	950	895	880	812	985	915	876	826		3,537	3,602	3,692
Operating profit (loss)	309	299	(472)	143	267	331	274	264		279	1,136	1,368
Interest and sundry (income) expense	2	24	90	(8)	18	21	23	25		108	87	93
Net earnings (loss)	170	216	(639)	94	(272)	272	179	158		(159)	337	928
Net earnings (loss) available to Whirlpool	$ 170	$ 210	$ (657)	$ 94	$ (268)	$ 276	$ 189	$ 153		$ (183)	$ 350	$ 888
Per share of common stock:
Basic net earnings (USD per share)	$ 2.66	$ 3.25	$ (9.50)	$ 1.31	$ (3.74)	$ 3.78	$ 2.55	$ 2.05		$ (2.72)	$ 4.78	$ 11.67
Diluted net earnings (USD per share)	2.64	3.22	(9.50)	1.30	(3.74)	3.72	2.52	2.01		(2.72)	4.70	11.50
Dividends (USD per share)	$ 1.15	$ 1.15	$ 1.15	$ 1.10	$ 1.10	$ 1.10	$ 1.10	$ 1.00		$ 4.55	$ 4.3	$ 3.9
Impairment of goodwill and other intangibles									$ 747	$ 747	$ 0	$ 0
June 2018 agreement with FCA
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Line Items]
Net earnings (loss)			$ (103)