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Earnings per Share (Schedule of Net Income Attributable to Common Stockholders) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract] |  |
Net income attributable to Westlake Chemical Corporation | $ 138,190 | $ 123,128
Net income attributable to participating securities | (694) | (549)
Net income attributable to common shareholders | $ 137,496 | $ 122,579

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- Definition The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Net Income -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51831255 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04(22)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(18)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Other Comprehensive Income -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51831270 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(20)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
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- Definition Amount of earnings (loss) distributed and earnings (loss) allocated to participating securities for the diluted earnings (loss) per share or per unit calculation under the two-class method. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 60B -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64863997&loc=SL5780133-109256 + Details
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