Basis of Presentation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Form 10-Q instructions and in the opinion of management contain all adjustments, including those that are normal recurring, necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and accompanying notes included in the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 of PolyOne Corporation. When used in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, the terms “we,” “us,” “our”, "PolyOne" and the “Company” mean PolyOne Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be attained in subsequent periods or for the year ending December 31, 2018. Historical information has been retrospectively adjusted to reflect the classification of discontinued operations. Discontinued operations are further detailed in Note 3, Discontinued Operations in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Accounting Standards Adopted and Not Yet Adopted	Accounting Standards Adopted On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers and all related amendments (the Standard), for all contracts using the modified retrospective method. The Standard implements a five-step process for revenue recognition that focuses on transfer of control and defines a contract as “an agreement between two or more parties that creates legally enforceable rights and obligations." The adoption of the Standard did not significantly impact the timing and measurement of revenue recognition. Additionally, we concluded that the methodology for which we historically estimated and recognized variable consideration (e.g. rebates) is consistent with the requirements of the Standard. As a result, we did not recognize a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. At contract inception, PolyOne assesses the goods and services promised to a customer and identifies a performance obligation for each promised good or service that is distinct. Our contracts, generally in the form of a purchase order or written contract, specifies the product or service that is promised to the customer. The typical contract life is less than 12 months and contains only one performance obligation, to provide conforming goods or services to the customer. Revenue is recognized at the point in time when control of the product is transferred to the customer, which typically occurs when products are shipped from our facilities with the exception of certain contract manufacturing arrangements. Within the Performance Products & Solutions (PP&S) segment, there are certain contract manufacturing arrangements where PolyOne charges the customer a conversion fee for processing raw materials that are owned and controlled by the customer. PolyOne will recognize revenue for these contract manufacturing arrangements over time, as we convert customer owned material, and have elected the “right to invoice” practical expedient available within ASC 606-10-55-18 as our measure of progress. Order fulfillment cycles are short and at any given time we have a right to payment from a customer in an amount that corresponds directly with the value of our performance completed to-date. The revenue streams within the Company are consistent with those disclosed for our reportable segments, within Note 8, Segment Information. For descriptions of our product offerings and segments see Note 14, Segment Information in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. We offer more than 35,000 polymer solutions to over 10,000 customers across the world. No customer accounts for more than 3% of our consolidated revenues and we do not have a high concentration of business in one particular end market. In October 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740), Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory (ASU 2016-16), which requires companies to recognize the income tax effects of intercompany sales or transfers of assets, other than inventory, in the income statement as income tax expense (or benefit) in the period the sale or transfer occurs. We recognized an adjustment of $17.0 million to beginning retained earnings upon adoption of this standard on January 1, 2018 from transactions completed as of December 31, 2017. In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost (ASU 2017-07). This standard requires the presentation of the service cost component of the net periodic benefit cost in the same income statement line item as other employee compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period. All other components of net periodic benefit cost must be presented below operating income. The Company has adopted ASU 2017-07 as of January 1, 2018. ASU 2017-07 provides a practical expedient to utilize previously disclosed components of net periodic benefit costs as an estimate for retrospective presentation. Utilizing this practical expedient, the Company reclassified non-service components of net periodic benefit cost from Cost of sales and Selling and administrative expense into Other income, net on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The adoption of ASU 2017-07 resulted in $1.4 million and $2.0 million of the non-service components of net periodic benefit gain presented in Other income, net for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. For additional detail on the components of our annual net periodic benefit cost please see Note 10, Employee Benefit Plans in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (ASU 2016-02), which requires a lessee to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases with a lease term of more than twelve months. Leases will continue to be classified as either financing or operating, with classification affecting the recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease. The Company will adopt ASU 2016-02 no later than the required date of January 1, 2019. The implementation team is analyzing our current lease portfolio and assessing the transition method and impact this standard will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements as well as future disclosure requirements.

Accounting Standards Adopted

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers and all related amendments (the Standard), for all contracts using the modified retrospective method. The Standard implements a five-step process for revenue recognition that focuses on transfer of control and defines a contract as “an agreement between two or more parties that creates legally enforceable rights and obligations." The adoption of the Standard did not significantly impact the timing and measurement of revenue recognition. Additionally, we concluded that the methodology for which we historically estimated and recognized variable consideration (e.g. rebates) is consistent with the requirements of the Standard. As a result, we did not recognize a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings.

At contract inception, PolyOne assesses the goods and services promised to a customer and identifies a performance obligation for each promised good or service that is distinct. Our contracts, generally in the form of a purchase order or written contract, specifies the product or service that is promised to the customer. The typical contract life is less than 12 months and contains only one performance obligation, to provide conforming goods or services to the customer. Revenue is recognized at the point in time when control of the product is transferred to the customer, which typically occurs when products are shipped from our facilities with the exception of certain contract manufacturing arrangements.

Within the Performance Products & Solutions (PP&S) segment, there are certain contract manufacturing arrangements where PolyOne charges the customer a conversion fee for processing raw materials that are owned and controlled by the customer. PolyOne will recognize revenue for these contract manufacturing arrangements over time, as we convert customer owned material, and have elected the “right to invoice” practical expedient available within ASC 606-10-55-18 as our measure of progress. Order fulfillment cycles are short and at any given time we have a right to payment from a customer in an amount that corresponds directly with the value of our performance completed to-date.

The revenue streams within the Company are consistent with those disclosed for our reportable segments, within Note 8, Segment Information. For descriptions of our product offerings and segments see Note 14, Segment Information in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. We offer more than 35,000 polymer solutions to over 10,000 customers across the world. No customer accounts for more than 3% of our consolidated revenues and we do not have a high concentration of business in one particular end market.

In October 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740), Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory (ASU 2016-16), which requires companies to recognize the income tax effects of intercompany sales or transfers of assets, other than inventory, in the income statement as income tax expense (or benefit) in the period the sale or transfer occurs. We recognized an adjustment of $17.0 million to beginning retained earnings upon adoption of this standard on January 1, 2018 from transactions completed as of December 31, 2017.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost (ASU 2017-07). This standard requires the presentation of the service cost component of the net periodic benefit cost in the same income statement line item as other employee compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period. All other components of net periodic benefit cost must be presented below operating income. The Company has adopted ASU 2017-07 as of January 1, 2018.

ASU 2017-07 provides a practical expedient to utilize previously disclosed components of net periodic benefit costs as an estimate for retrospective presentation. Utilizing this practical expedient, the Company reclassified non-service components of net periodic benefit cost from Cost of sales and Selling and administrative expense into Other income, net on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The adoption of ASU 2017-07 resulted in $1.4 million and $2.0 million of the non-service components of net periodic benefit gain presented in Other income, net for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. For additional detail on the components of our annual net periodic benefit cost please see Note 10, Employee Benefit Plans in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (ASU 2016-02), which requires a lessee to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases with a lease term of more than twelve months. Leases will continue to be classified as either financing or operating, with classification affecting the recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease. The Company will adopt ASU 2016-02 no later than the required date of January 1, 2019. The implementation team is analyzing our current lease portfolio and assessing the transition method and impact this standard will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements as well as future disclosure requirements.