Other Comprehensive Loss - Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Components of other comprehensive loss
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 855,000,000	$ 1,105,000,000	$ 177,000,000
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(12,000,000)	(90,000,000)	140,000,000
Balance at the end of the period	673,000,000	855,000,000	1,105,000,000
Foreign currency translation adjustment
Components of other comprehensive loss
Balance at the beginning of the period	(96,000,000)	(6,000,000)
Tax expense	0	0
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	(1,000,000)	(90,000,000)
Tax expense	0	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, gross	0	0
Tax expense	0	0
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(1,000,000)	(90,000,000)
Balance at the end of the period	(97,000,000)	(96,000,000)	(6,000,000)
AOCI tax attributable to parent	0	0
Pension and other postretirement benefits adjustments, net of tax
Components of other comprehensive loss
Balance at the beginning of the period	(278,000,000)	(267,000,000)
Tax expense	0	0
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	(32,000,000)	(27,000,000)
Tax expense	0	(2,000,000)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, gross	15,000,000	18,000,000
Tax expense	0	0
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(17,000,000)	(11,000,000)
Balance at the end of the period	(295,000,000)	(278,000,000)	(267,000,000)
AOCI tax attributable to parent	50,000,000	50,000,000	52,000,000
Other comprehensive income of unconsolidated affiliates
Components of other comprehensive loss
Balance at the beginning of the period	(5,000,000)	(5,000,000)
Tax expense	0	0
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	0	0
Tax expense	0	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, gross	0	0
Tax expense	0	0
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	0	0
Balance at the end of the period	(5,000,000)	(5,000,000)	(5,000,000)
Hedging instruments
Components of other comprehensive loss
Balance at the beginning of the period	6,000,000	(5,000,000)
Tax expense	0	0
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	6,000,000	11,000,000
Tax expense	0	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, gross	0	0
Tax expense	0	0
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	6,000,000	11,000,000
Balance at the end of the period	12,000,000	6,000,000	(5,000,000)
Amounts attributable to Venator
Components of other comprehensive loss
Balance at the beginning of the period	(373,000,000)	(283,000,000)	(423,000,000)
Tax expense	0	0
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	(27,000,000)	(106,000,000)
Tax expense	0	(2,000,000)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, gross	15,000,000	18,000,000
Tax expense	0	0
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(12,000,000)	(90,000,000)	140,000,000
Balance at the end of the period	(385,000,000)	(373,000,000)	(283,000,000)
Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests
Components of other comprehensive loss
Balance at the beginning of the period	0	0
Tax expense	0	0
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	0	0
Tax expense	0	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, gross	0	0
Tax expense	0	0
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	0	0
Balance at the end of the period	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0