Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share from Continuing Operations (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to The Williams Companies, Inc. available to common stockholders for basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share	$ 140	$ 162
Basic weighted-average shares	684,773	682,052
Diluted weighted-average shares	688,904	687,143
Earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations:
Basic	$ 0.20	$ 0.24
Diluted	$ 0.20	$ 0.23
Nonvested restricted stock units [Member]
Effect of dilutive securities:
Incremental common shares attributable to share-based payment arrangements under effects of dilutive securities item	2,096	2,720
Stock options [Member]
Effect of dilutive securities:
Incremental common shares attributable to share-based payment arrangements under effects of dilutive securities item	2,017	2,187
Convertible debentures [Member]
Effect of dilutive securities:
Incremental dilutive shares, Convertible debt	18	184