Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 31, 2019
Cover [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	HANCOCK WHITNEY CORP
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Central Index Key	0000750577
Amendment Flag	false
Document Type	10-Q
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity File Number	001-36872
Entity Tax Identification Number	64-0693170
Entity Address, Address Line One	Hancock Whitney Plaza
Entity Address, Address Line Two	2510 14th Street
Entity Address, City or Town	Gulfport
Entity Address, State or Province	MS
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	39501
City Area Code	(228)
Local Phone Number	868-4000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		87,214,220
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MS
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, par value $3.33 per share
Trading Symbol	HWC
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ