Cover - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Nov. 01, 2019
Cover page.
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-36272
Entity Registrant Name	Element Solutions Inc
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	37-1744899
Entity Address, Street Name	500 East Broward Boulevard,
Entity Address, Suite Number	Suite 1860
Entity Address, City	Fort Lauderdale,
Entity Address, State	FL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	33394
City Area Code	561
Local Phone Number	207-9600
Title of each class	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	ESI
Name of each exchange on which registered	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		251,099,413
Entity Central Index Key	0001590714
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3