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Other Assets (Goodwill) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Oct. 31, 2014
Apr. 30, 2014
Dec. 31, 2012
Goodwill [Line Items]          
Goodwill $ 62,016us-gaap_Goodwill $ 62,016us-gaap_Goodwill     $ 29,990us-gaap_Goodwill
Goodwill, Other Changes 0us-gaap_GoodwillOtherChanges        
Goodwill, Acquired During Period   32,026us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod      
Olefins [Member]          
Goodwill [Line Items]          
Goodwill 29,990us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wlk_OlefinsMember
29,990us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wlk_OlefinsMember
    29,990us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wlk_OlefinsMember
Goodwill, Other Changes 0us-gaap_GoodwillOtherChanges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wlk_OlefinsMember
       
Goodwill, Acquired During Period   0us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wlk_OlefinsMember
     
Vinyls [Member]          
Goodwill [Line Items]          
Goodwill 32,026us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wlk_VinylsMember
32,026us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wlk_VinylsMember
    0us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wlk_VinylsMember
Goodwill, Other Changes 0us-gaap_GoodwillOtherChanges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wlk_VinylsMember
       
Goodwill, Acquired During Period   $ 32,026us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= wlk_VinylsMember
     
Minimum [Member]          
Goodwill [Line Items]          
Discounted cash flow projections period     2015 2014  
Maximum [Member]          
Goodwill [Line Items]          
Discounted cash flow projections period     2023 2023,