Basis of Consolidation and Presentation	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Consolidation and Presentation	Basis of Consolidation and Presentation Ingevity did not operate as a separate, stand-alone entity for the full period covered by these Consolidated Financial Statements. Our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, our consolidated statement of operations and consolidated statement of comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2017, as well as our consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2017 consists of the consolidated balances of Ingevity as prepared on a stand-alone basis. Our consolidated statements of operations and consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, as well as our consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, have been prepared on a “carve out” basis for the periods and dates prior to the spin-off on May 15, 2016. Prior to the Separation, Ingevity's operations were included in WestRock's financial results and were comprised of certain WestRock wholly owned legal entities for which Ingevity was the sole business and components of legal entities in which Ingevity operated in conjunction with other WestRock businesses. For periods prior to May 15, 2016, the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements were prepared from WestRock's historical accounting records and are presented on a stand-alone basis as if the business operations had been conducted independently from WestRock. Prior to May 15, 2016, WestRock's net investments in these operations is shown in lieu of Ingevity stockholder's equity in the Consolidated Financial Statements. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the historical operations, assets and liabilities of the legal entities that are considered to comprise the Ingevity business. In all periods presented within these Consolidated Financial Statements all intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Ingevity and subsidiaries in which a controlling interest is maintained. If Ingevity's ownership is less than 100 percent, the outside stockholders' interests are shown as noncontrolling interests. In all periods presented within the Consolidated Financial Statements, our noncontrolling interest represents the 30 percent ownership interest held by a third party U.S. based company in our consolidated Purification Cellutions LLC legal entity. Purification Cellutions LLC is the legal entity that owns technology associated with, and manufactures, our structured honeycomb products within our Performance Materials segment. For purposes of these Consolidated Financial Statements, the term “WestRock” herein refers to the legacy operations of MeadWestvaco Corporation (“MWV”) and its subsidiaries prior to the July 1, 2015 merger of MWV and Rock-Tenn Company ("Rock-Tenn") (the "Merger") and the combined operations of Rock-Tenn and MWV subsequent to the Merger. References to Ingevity’s historical business and operations refer to the business and operations of the Specialty Chemicals Business of WestRock, or prior to the Merger, MWV, that were transferred to Ingevity in connection with the Separation. All of the allocations and estimates in the Consolidated Financial Statements prior to May 15, 2016 are based on assumptions that management believes are reasonable. However, the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein may not be indicative of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Ingevity in the future or if Ingevity had been a separate, stand-alone entity during the periods presented.

Basis of Consolidation and Presentation

Ingevity did not operate as a separate, stand-alone entity for the full period covered by these Consolidated Financial Statements. Our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, our consolidated statement of operations and consolidated statement of comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2017, as well as our consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2017 consists of the consolidated balances of Ingevity as prepared on a stand-alone basis. Our consolidated statements of operations and consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, as well as our consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, have been prepared on a “carve out” basis for the periods and dates prior to the spin-off on May 15, 2016.

Prior to the Separation, Ingevity's operations were included in WestRock's financial results and were comprised of certain WestRock wholly owned legal entities for which Ingevity was the sole business and components of legal entities in which Ingevity operated in conjunction with other WestRock businesses. For periods prior to May 15, 2016, the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements were prepared from WestRock's historical accounting records and are presented on a stand-alone basis as if the business operations had been conducted independently from WestRock. Prior to May 15, 2016, WestRock's net investments in these operations is shown in lieu of Ingevity stockholder's equity in the Consolidated Financial Statements. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the historical operations, assets and liabilities of the legal entities that are considered to comprise the Ingevity business. In all periods presented within these Consolidated Financial Statements all intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Ingevity and subsidiaries in which a controlling interest is maintained. If Ingevity's ownership is less than 100 percent, the outside stockholders' interests are shown as noncontrolling interests. In all periods presented within the Consolidated Financial Statements, our noncontrolling interest represents the 30 percent ownership interest held by a third party U.S. based company in our consolidated Purification Cellutions LLC legal entity. Purification Cellutions LLC is the legal entity that owns technology associated with, and manufactures, our structured honeycomb products within our Performance Materials segment.

For purposes of these Consolidated Financial Statements, the term “WestRock” herein refers to the legacy operations of MeadWestvaco Corporation (“MWV”) and its subsidiaries prior to the July 1, 2015 merger of MWV and Rock-Tenn Company ("Rock-Tenn") (the "Merger") and the combined operations of Rock-Tenn and MWV subsequent to the Merger. References to Ingevity’s historical business and operations refer to the business and operations of the Specialty Chemicals Business of WestRock, or prior to the Merger, MWV, that were transferred to Ingevity in connection with the Separation.

All of the allocations and estimates in the Consolidated Financial Statements prior to May 15, 2016 are based on assumptions that management believes are reasonable. However, the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein may not be indicative of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Ingevity in the future or if Ingevity had been a separate, stand-alone entity during the periods presented.