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Commitments And Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]      
Operating lease rental expense $ 56,014us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet $ 45,361us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet $ 38,199us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet
Pending Litigation [Member]      
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]      
Approximate value of damages sought 1,400us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtValue
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
   
Threatened Litigation [Member]      
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]      
Approximate value of damages sought 100us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtValue
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_ThreatenedLitigationMember
   
PolyOne [Member]      
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]      
Percentage of costs related to environmental issues to be paid by PolyOne 100.00%wlk_EnvironmentalCostsPercentageNetOfRecoveriesFromThirdParties
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wlk_PolyoneMember
   
Costs incurred environmental remediation services $ 2,805us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationExpense
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wlk_PolyoneMember
$ 3,284us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationExpense
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wlk_PolyoneMember