Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gross amount of debt extinguished.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the additional interest rate accrued for each subsequent 90-day period following the initial 90-day period of default of meeting the terms and conditions of the registration rights agreements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wmb_AdditionalInterestRateAccruedForDefaultOfRegistrationRightsAgreementsEachSubsequentPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	wmb_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the additional interest rate accrued for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of default of meeting the terms and conditions of the registration rights agreements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wmb_AdditionalInterestRateAccruedForDefaultOfRegistrationRightsAgreementsFirstPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	wmb_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the maximum interest rate accrued annually for all periods of default of meeting the terms and conditions of the registration rights agreements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wmb_MaximumAdditionalInterestRateAccruedForDefaultOfRegistrationRightsAgreementsAllPeriods
Namespace Prefix:	wmb_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wmb_A6.125SeniorUnsecuredNotesdue2022Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=wmb_WilliamsPartnersL.P.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wmb_A4SeniorUnsecuredNotesDue2027Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=wmb_NorthwestPipelineLlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wmb_A5.95SeniorUnsecuredNotesdue2017Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wmb_A7.25SeniorUnsecuredNotesdue2017Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Debt and Banking Arrangements Long-Term Debt Issuances and Retirements (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Millions			3 Months Ended
	Apr. 15, 2017	Feb. 01, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Apr. 03, 2017
6.125% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2022 [Member] \| Williams Partners L.P. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt interest rate			6.125%
Long-term debt retired			$ 750
4% Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2027 [Member] \| Northwest Pipeline LLC [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt face amount				$ 250
Long-term debt interest rate				4.00%
Additional interest rate accrued for default of registration rights agreements first period				0.25%
Additional interest rate accrued for default of registration rights agreements each subsequent period				0.25%
Maximum additional interest rate accrued for default of registration rights agreements all periods				0.50%
5.95% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2017 [Member] \| Northwest Pipeline LLC [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt interest rate	5.95%
Long-term debt retired	$ 185
7.25% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2017 [Member] \| Williams Partners L.P. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt interest rate		7.25%
Long-term debt retired		$ 600