CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTs OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($)	Total	Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. Common Stock, Par	Additional Paid-In Capital	Treasury Stock	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Earnings	Retained Earnings, Appropriated [Member]	Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 [Member]
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 146,069,000	$ 98,000	$ 162,730,000	$ (44,353,000)	$ (4,287,000)	$ 31,881,000
BALANCE, shares at Dec. 31, 2016		8,810,375
Net income	19,989,000					19,989,000
Other comprehensive income	2,523,000				2,523,000
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures		$ 2,000	(2,000)
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures, shares		178,889
Stock-based compensation expense	16,430,000		16,430,000
Reclassification of compensation liability to be paid in shares	591,000		591,000					$ 711,000
Dividends declared ($2.07 in 2015, $1.82 per share in 2014, $1.64 per share in 2013)	(22,552,000)					(22,552,000)
Purchases of treasury stock	(1,326,000)			(1,326,000)
Purchases of treasury stock, shares		(23,822)
Issuance of treasury stock under employee stock plans, shares		22,091
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures			(1,219,000)	1,219,000
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes	(5,328,000)			(5,328,000)
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes, shares		(87,946)
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2017	156,396,000	$ 100,000	179,241,000	(49,788,000)	(1,764,000)	28,607,000	$ (711,000)
BALANCE, shares at Dec. 31, 2017		8,899,587
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification						(700,000)
Net income	26,751,000					26,751,000
Other comprehensive income	(3,119,000)				(3,119,000)
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures		$ 2,000	(2,000)
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures, shares		201,756
Stock-based compensation expense	15,283,000		15,283,000
Reclassification of compensation liability to be paid in shares	165,000		165,000
Dividends declared ($2.07 in 2015, $1.82 per share in 2014, $1.64 per share in 2013)	(24,833,000)					(24,833,000)
Purchases of treasury stock	(4,726,000)			(4,726,000)
Purchases of treasury stock, shares		(121,320)
Issuance of treasury stock under employee stock plans, shares		10,327
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures			(571,000)	571,000
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes	(4,768,000)			(4,768,000)
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes, shares		(85,448)
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 161,149,000	$ 102,000	194,116,000	(58,711,000)	(4,883,000)	30,525,000
BALANCE, shares at Dec. 31, 2018	8,904,902	8,904,902
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax	$ (46,000)
Net income	5,911,000
Other comprehensive income	1,940,000
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures		$ 1,000	(1,000)
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures, shares		123,986
Stock-based compensation expense	10,305,000		10,305,000
Reclassification of compensation liability to be paid in shares	232,000		232,000
Dividends declared ($2.07 in 2015, $1.82 per share in 2014, $1.64 per share in 2013)	(25,469,000)					(25,469,000)
Purchases of treasury stock	(3,394,000)			(3,394,000)
Purchases of treasury stock, shares		(110,606)
Issuance of treasury stock under employee stock plans, shares		24,840
Issuance of treasury stock under employee stock plans			(1,211,000)	1,211,000
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes	(2,387,000)			(2,387,000)
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes, shares		(62,036)
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 148,287,000	$ 103,000	$ 203,441,000	$ (63,281,000)	$ (2,943,000)	$ 10,967,000
BALANCE, shares at Dec. 31, 2019		8,881,086
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax	$ 43,000