Contingencies Enviromental liabilities rollforward (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Beginning Balance	$ 15.3
Adjusted to expense (income) during the year	0	0	5.0
Ending Balance	14.2	15.3
Reserve for Environmental Costs [Member]
Beginning Balance	14.9	14.1	15.0
Adjusted to expense (income) during the year	1.3	1.3	0.7
Payments made	0	0	(1.6)
Ending Balance	13.6	14.9	14.1
Formal cost share [Member]
Other Unrecorded Amounts	2.3
Indemnification Agreement [Member]
Other Unrecorded Amounts	2.7
Other Reserves [Member]
Other Unrecorded Amounts	$ 0.2

Amount of loss contingency liability.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of payments made reducing loss contingency liability.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValuePayments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in loss contingency liability.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualCarryingValuePeriodIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Other unrecorded indebtedness which have not been separately stated.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Rule 15c3

-Number 240

-Section 3

-Subparagraph i

-Article 15c3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherUnrecordedAmounts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis=lpx_FormalCostShareMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis=lpx_OtherReservesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationSiteAxis=us-gaap_IndemnificationGuaranteeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=us-gaap_ReserveForEnvironmentalCostsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: