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 (Accumulated Deficit)
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 161,149	$ 102	$ 194,116	$ (58,711)	$ (4,883)	$ 30,525
BALANCE, shares at Dec. 31, 2018		8,904,902
Net income	5,911					5,911
Other comprehensive income	1,940				1,940
Foreign currency translation adjustments	1,940
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures		$ 1	(1)
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures, shares		123,986
Stock-based compensation expense	10,305		10,305
Reclassification of compensation liability to be paid in shares	232		232
Dividends declared ($2.07 in 2015, $1.82 per share in 2014, $1.64 per share in 2013)	(25,469)					(25,469)
Purchases of treasury stock	(3,394)			(3,394)
Purchases of treasury stock, shares		(110,606)
Issuance of treasury stock under employee stock plans, shares		24,840
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures			(1,211)	1,211
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes	(2,387)			(2,387)
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes, shares		(62,036)
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2019	148,287	$ 103	203,441	(63,281)	(2,943)	10,967
BALANCE, shares at Dec. 31, 2019		8,881,086
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Realized upon Sale or Liquidation, Tax	0
Net income	(8,947)					(8,947)
Other comprehensive income	(1,226)				(1,226)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(1,226)
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures		$ 2	(2)
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures, shares		193,968
Stock-based compensation expense	6,701		6,701
Reclassification of compensation liability to be paid in shares	212		212
Dividends declared ($2.07 in 2015, $1.82 per share in 2014, $1.64 per share in 2013)	(3,715)					(3,715)
Purchases of treasury stock	(12,952)			(12,952)
Purchases of treasury stock, shares		(679,756)
Issuance of treasury stock under employee stock plans, shares		2,169
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures			(84)	83
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes	(1,120)			(1,120)
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes, shares		(43,045)
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 130,711	$ 105	210,268	(77,967)	0	(1,695)
BALANCE, shares at Dec. 31, 2020	8,904,902	8,326,948
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Realized upon Sale or Liquidation, Tax	$ 4,169
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired, Employee Stock Plan		(27,474)
Treasury Stock, Acquired, Employee Stock Plan	(697)			(697)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Realized upon Sale or Liquidation, Net of Tax	4,169				4,169
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax	(46)
Net income	9,763
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures		$ 2	(2)
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures, shares		158,098
Stock-based compensation expense	5,835		5,835
Distributed Earnings	(20,823)		(20,823)
Dividends declared ($2.07 in 2015, $1.82 per share in 2014, $1.64 per share in 2013)	(3,706)					(3,706)
Purchases of treasury stock	(2,990)			(2,990)
Purchases of treasury stock, shares		(182,549)
Issuance of treasury stock under employee stock plans, shares		2,353
Issuance of treasury stock under employee stock plans	0		(91)	91
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes	(884)			(884)
Restricted stock returned for payment of taxes, shares		(51,359)
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 117,906	$ 107	$ 195,187	$ (81,750)	$ 0	$ 4,362
BALANCE, shares at Dec. 31, 2021		8,253,491
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Realized upon Sale or Liquidation, Tax	$ 0
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax	$ 43