Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Feb. 19, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-6659
Entity Registrant Name	ESSENTIAL UTILITIES, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0000078128
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	PA
Entity Tax Identification Number	23-1702594
Entity Address, Address Line One	762 W Lancaster Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town	Bryn Mawr
Entity Address, State or Province	PA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	19010-3489
City Area Code	610
Local Phone Number	527-8000
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 8,911,078,473
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		222,781,536
Documents Incorporated by Reference [Text Block]	Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement, relating to the 2020 annual meeting of shareholders of registrant, to be filed within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K, have been incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K
Common Class A [Member]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, par value $0.50 per share
Trading Symbol	WTRG
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Tangible Equity Units [Member]
Title of 12(b) Security	6.00% Tangible Equity Units
Trading Symbol	WTRU
Security Exchange Name	NYSE