Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share from Continuing Operations (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 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	$ 1,678	$ 143	$ 1,917	$ 454
Basic weighted-average shares	747,412	683,274	709,809	682,744
Diluted weighted-average shares	752,064	687,306	714,119	687,007
Earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations:
Basic	$ 2.24	$ 0.21	$ 2.70	$ 0.66
Diluted	$ 2.22	$ 0.20	$ 2.68	$ 0.66
Distributed Earnings	$ 1		$ 3
Nonvested restricted stock units [Member]
Effect of dilutive securities:
Incremental common shares attributable to share-based payment arrangements under effects of dilutive securities item	2,424	1,901	2,205	1,975
Stock options [Member]
Effect of dilutive securities:
Incremental common shares attributable to share-based payment arrangements under effects of dilutive securities item	2,210	2,113	2,087	2,169
Convertible debentures [Member]
Effect of dilutive securities:
Incremental dilutive shares, Convertible debt	18	18	18	119