Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Jan. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	HANCOCK WHITNEY CORP
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 4.0
Entity Central Index Key	0000750577
Trading Symbol	hwc
Amendment Flag	false
Document Type	10-K
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		85,686,848