Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Feb. 16, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2023
Securities Act File Number	001-32903
Entity Registrant Name	THE WESTERN UNION COMPANY
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	20-4531180
Entity Address, Address Line One	7001 East Belleview Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town	Denver
Entity Address, State or Province	CO
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	80237
City Area Code	866
Local Phone Number	405-5012
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value
Trading Symbol	WU
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Document Financial Statement Error Correction [Flag]	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 4.4
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		342,196,928
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2023
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Central Index Key	0001365135
Amendment Flag	false
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of the Registrant’s proxy statement for the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders are incorporated into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10‑K
Auditor Firm ID	42
Auditor Name	Ernst & Young LLP
Auditor Location	Denver, Colorado