CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTs OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Common Stock, Par	Additional Paid-In Capital	Treasury Stock	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Earnings	Woodway Financial Advisors Additional Paid-In Capital
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 110,007	$ 90	$ 119,859	$ (29,028)	$ (1,231)	$ 20,317
BALANCE, shares at Dec. 31, 2014		8,308,460
Net income	27,105					27,105
Other comprehensive loss	(3,457)				(3,457)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues		$ 1
Issuance of common stock for acquisition, shares		109,712
Issuance of common stock for acquisition	5,292
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures		$ 3	(3)
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures, shares		305,342
Stock-based compensation expense	17,574		17,574
Reclassification of compensation liability to be paid in shares	338		338				$ 5,291
Tax benefit related to stock-based compensation	1,831		1,831
Dividends declared ($2.07 in 2015, $1.82 per share in 2014, $1.64 per share in 2013)	(17,748)					(17,748)
Purchases of treasury stock	(1,327)			(1,327)
Purchases of treasury stock, shares		(21,818)
Issuance of treasury stock under employee stock plans, shares		20,375
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures			(1,093)	1,093
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes	(5,648)			(5,648)
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes, shares		(91,384)
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2015	133,967	$ 94	143,797	(34,910)	(4,688)	29,674
BALANCE, shares at Dec. 31, 2015		8,630,687
Net income	22,647					22,647
Other comprehensive loss	401				401
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues		$ 1
Issuance of common stock for acquisition, shares		80,253
Issuance of common stock for acquisition	3,734
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures		$ 3	(3)
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures, shares		296,376
Stock-based compensation expense	15,954		15,954
Reclassification of compensation liability to be paid in shares	167		167				$ 3,733
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Deficiency from Share-based Compensation	(256)		(256)
Dividends declared ($2.07 in 2015, $1.82 per share in 2014, $1.64 per share in 2013)	(20,440)					(20,440)
Purchases of treasury stock	(6,248)			(6,248)
Purchases of treasury stock, shares		(128,026)
Issuance of treasury stock under employee stock plans, shares		12,048
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures			(662)	662
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes	(3,857)			(3,857)
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes, shares		(80,963)
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 146,069	$ 98	162,730	(44,353)	(4,287)	31,881
BALANCE, shares at Dec. 31, 2016	8,810,375	8,810,375
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification			711			(711)
Net income	$ 19,989
Other comprehensive loss	2,523
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures		$ 2	(2)
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures, shares		178,889
Stock-based compensation expense	16,430		16,430
Reclassification of compensation liability to be paid in shares	591		591
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Deficiency from Share-based Compensation	0
Dividends declared ($2.07 in 2015, $1.82 per share in 2014, $1.64 per share in 2013)	(22,552)					(22,552)
Purchases of treasury stock	(1,326)			(1,326)
Purchases of treasury stock, shares		(23,822)
Issuance of treasury stock under employee stock plans, shares		22,091
Issuance of treasury stock under employee stock plans			(1,219)	1,219
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes	(5,328)			(5,328)
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes, shares		(87,946)
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 156,396	$ 100	$ 179,241	$ (49,788)	$ (1,764)	$ 28,607
BALANCE, shares at Dec. 31, 2017	8,899,587	8,899,587