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Long-Term Debt (GO Zone Act Senior Notes Due 2029) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Jul. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2013
Jul. 02, 2010
Debt Instrument [Line Items]        
Stated interest rate 6.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage      
Minimum debt amount guaranteed by subsidiaries 5,000wlk_MinimumDebtAmountGuaranteedBySubsidiaries      
GO Zone 6 1/2% Senior Notes Due 2029 [Member]        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]        
Stated interest rate 6.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= wlk_GoZoneSixAndOneHalfPercentSeniorNotesDueTwentyTwentyNineMember
  6.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= wlk_GoZoneSixAndOneHalfPercentSeniorNotesDueTwentyTwentyNineMember
 
Senior notes 100,000us-gaap_SeniorNotes
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= wlk_GoZoneSixAndOneHalfPercentSeniorNotesDueTwentyTwentyNineMember
  100,000us-gaap_SeniorNotes
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= wlk_GoZoneSixAndOneHalfPercentSeniorNotesDueTwentyTwentyNineMember
 
Redeemed Prior To August First Twenty Twenty [Member] | GO Zone 6 1/2% Senior Notes Due 2029 [Member]        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]        
Percentage of principal required if called 100.00%wlk_PercentageOfPrincipalRequiredIfCalled
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodFiveMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= wlk_GoZoneSixAndOneHalfPercentSeniorNotesDueTwentyTwentyNineMember
     
Redeemed On Or After August First Twenty Twenty [Member] | GO Zone 6 1/2% Senior Notes Due 2029 [Member]        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]        
Percentage of principal required if called 100.00%wlk_PercentageOfPrincipalRequiredIfCalled
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodAxis
= wlk_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodSixMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= wlk_GoZoneSixAndOneHalfPercentSeniorNotesDueTwentyTwentyNineMember
     
Gulf Opportunity Zone Act Of 2005 [Member]        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]        
Senior notes, principal amount issued       $ 100,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= wlk_GulfOpportunityZoneActOfTwoThousandFiveMember
Maturity date   Aug. 01, 2029    
Gulf Opportunity Zone Act Of 2005 [Member] | GO Zone 6 1/2% Senior Notes Due 2029 [Member]        
Debt Instrument [Line Items]        
Stated interest rate       6.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= wlk_GulfOpportunityZoneActOfTwoThousandFiveMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= wlk_GoZoneSixAndOneHalfPercentSeniorNotesDueTwentyTwentyNineMember