Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	Walter Energy, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0000837173
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2015
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		80,746,088
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2