Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value of the amount outstanding under the credit facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109250915&loc=d3e13433-108611

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityFairValueOfAmountOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The permitted amount the line of credit facility may be increased by, under certain circumstances if certain lenders agree to commit to such an increase.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wlk_LineOfCreditFacilityPermittedIncrease
Namespace Prefix:	wlk_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wlk_NewCreditAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=wlk_AlternateBaseRateDomain
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wlk_CreditAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=wlk_SwinglineLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Period Type:

Long-Term Debt (Credit Agreement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jul. 24, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Jul. 23, 2018
New Credit Agreement [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Credit Agreement [Line Items]
Line Of Credit Facility Permitted Increase	$ 25
New Credit Agreement [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Credit Agreement [Line Items]
Line Of Credit Facility Permitted Increase	500
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| New Credit Agreement [Member]
Credit Agreement [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity		$ 996
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| New Credit Agreement [Member] \| Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Credit Agreement [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 1,000
Line of Credit Facility, Fair Value of Amount Outstanding		0
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		$ 4
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| New Credit Agreement [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| LIBOR [Member] \| Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Credit Agreement [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	1.00%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| New Credit Agreement [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Alternate Base Rate [Domain] \| Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Credit Agreement [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	0.00%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| New Credit Agreement [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| LIBOR [Member] \| Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Credit Agreement [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	1.75%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| New Credit Agreement [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Alternate Base Rate [Domain] \| Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Credit Agreement [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	0.75%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Credit Agreement [Member] \| Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Credit Agreement [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity			$ 1,000
Letter of Credit [Member] \| New Credit Agreement [Member] \| Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Credit Agreement [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 150
Swingline Loan [Member] \| New Credit Agreement [Member] \| Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Credit Agreement [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 50