Fair Value Measurements Nonrecurring Measurements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended					6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2016		Mar. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2015		Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets		$ 802			$ 24		$ 810		$ 27
Impairment of equity-method investments		0			0		112		0
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Balance Sheet Disclosures [Abstract]
Assets of Disposal Group		1,138					1,138				$ 26
Liabilities of Disposal Group		(179)					(179)				$ 0
Canadian Operations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets		341					341
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Canadian Operations [Member]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Balance Sheet Disclosures [Abstract]
Disposal Group Current Assets		52					52
Disposal Group, Property, Plant and Equipment		1,687					1,687
Disposal Group, Other Noncurrent Assets		138					138
Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Impairment At Period End		(747)					(747)
Assets of Disposal Group		1,130					1,130
Disposal Group, Current Liabilities		(50)					(50)
Disposal Group, Noncurrent Liabilities		(129)					(129)
Liabilities of Disposal Group		(179)					(179)
Income (Loss) from Individually Significant Component Disposed of or Held-for-sale, Excluding Discontinued Operations, Attributable to Parent, before Income Tax [Abstract]
Income (Loss) of disposal group before income taxes		(35)			(5)		(89)		7
Income (Loss)of disposal group before income taxes attributable to The Williams Companies, Inc.		(21)			(3)		(54)		4
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets	[1]						15		7
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets							795		20
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Property Plant And Equipment, net [Member] | Williams Partners [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Property, Plant, and Equipment, Fair Value Disclosure		18	[2]		17	[3]	18	[2]	$ 17	[3]
Impairment of long-lived assets		48	[2]		$ 20	[3]
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Assets held for sale [Member] | Williams Partners [Member] | Canadian Operations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Held-for-sale, Fair Value Disclosure	[4]	924					924
Impairment of long-lived assets	[4]	341
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Assets held for sale [Member] | Williams NGL & Petchem Services [Member] | Canadian Operations [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets Held-for-sale, Fair Value Disclosure	[4]	206					$ 206
Impairment of long-lived assets	[4]	$ 406
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of investment				$ 0
Impairment of equity-method investments				3
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Investments [Member] | Williams Partners [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of investment	[5]			1,294
Impairment of equity-method investments	[5]			$ 109
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Investments [Member] | Williams Partners [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Discount rate				13.00%
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Investments [Member] | Williams Partners [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Discount rate				13.30%

[1] Reflects multiple individually insignificant impairments of other certain assets that may no longer be in use or are surplus in nature for which the fair value was determined to be zero or an insignificant salvage value.

[2] Relates to the certain gathering assets within the Mid-Continent region. The estimated fair value was determined by a market approach based on our analysis of observable inputs in the principal market.

[3] Relates to certain surplus equipment. The estimated fair value was determined by a market approach based on our analysis of observable inputs in the principal market.

[4] We have previously announced that our business plan for 2016 includes the expectation of proceeds from planned asset sales and we initiated a marketing process regarding the potential sale of our Canadian operations (disposal group). We have received bids during the second quarter from potential purchasers and are in advanced negotiations regarding the sale of these operations. Given the maturation of this process during the second quarter, we have designated these operations as held for sale as of June 30, 2016. As a result, we measured the fair value of the disposal group, resulting in an impairment charge. The estimated fair value was determined by a market approach based primarily on inputs received in the marketing process and reflects our estimate of the potential assumed proceeds related to our Canadian operations. We expect to dispose of our Canadian operations through a sale during the second half of 2016. The following tables present the carrying amounts of the major classes of assets and liabilities included as part of the disposal group, which are presented within Assets held for sale and Liabilities held for sale on the Consolidated Balance Sheet (and excludes certain insignificant assets held for sale that are not part of this disposal group). Carrying Amount June 30, 2016 (Millions)Assets (liabilities): Current assets $52Property, plant, and equipment – net 1,687Other noncurrent assets 138Impairment of disposal group (747) $1,130 Current liabilities (50)Noncurrent liabilities (129) $(179)The following table presents the results of operations for the disposal group, excluding the impairment noted above. Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 2015 2016 2015 (Millions)Income (loss) before income taxes of disposal group$(35) $(5) $(89) $7Income (loss) before income taxes of disposal group attributable to The Williams Companies, Inc.(21) (3) (54) 4

[5] Relates to Williams Partners’ equity-method investments in the Delaware basin gas gathering system and Laurel Mountain. Our carrying values in these equity-method investments had been written down to fair value at December 31, 2015. Our first-quarter 2016 analysis reflected higher discount rates for both of these investments, along with lower natural gas prices for Laurel Mountain. We estimated the fair value of these investments using an income approach based on expected future cash flows and appropriate discount rates. The determination of estimated future cash flows involved significant assumptions regarding gathering volumes and related capital spending. Discount rates utilized ranged from 13.0 percent to 13.3 percent and reflected increases in our cost of capital, revised estimates of expected future cash flows, and risks associated with the underlying businesses.