Name:	lxu_LineOfCreditFacilityAdditionalBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	lxu_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The description of requirements under an agreement to be eligible to enter into certain transactions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lxu_LoanRequirementDescription
Namespace Prefix:	lxu_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Minimum excess borrowing availability as percentage of maximum revolver commitments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lxu_MinimumExcessBorrowingAvailabilityAsPercentageOfMaximumRevolverCommitments
Namespace Prefix:	lxu_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Springing maturity date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lxu_SpringingMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	lxu_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all debt, including all short-term borrowings, long-term debt, and capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.13,16)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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

- Definition

Description of minimum financial levels (for example, tangible net worth and working capital) and achievement of certain financial ratios (for example, working capital ratio and debt service coverage ratio), and adherence to certain clauses which generally require or restrict certain actions (for example, entering into a debt arrangement with equal or greater seniority, and selling or discontinuing a certain business segment or material subsidiary) to be in compliance with the covenant clauses of the debt agreement. May also include a discussion of the adverse consequences that would result if the entity violates or fails to satisfy the covenants.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 470
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (g)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75038535&loc=d3e64711-112823

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCovenantDescription
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of the frequency of periodic payments (monthly, quarterly, annual).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 470
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75038535&loc=d3e64711-112823

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFrequencyOfPeriodicPayment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Description of the interest rate as being fixed or variable, and, if variable, identification of the index or rate on which the interest rate is based and the number of points or percentage added to that index or rate to set the rate, and other pertinent information, such as frequency of rate resets.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateTerms
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of the payment terms of the debt instrument (for example, whether periodic payments include principal and frequency of payments) and discussion about any contingencies associated with the payment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(3))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 470
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75038535&loc=d3e64711-112823

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentPaymentTerms
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of payment greater than the preceding installment payments to be paid at final maturity date of debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The effective interest rate at the end of the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateAtPeriodEnd
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Weighted average interest rate of long-term debt outstanding calculated at point in time.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash inflow to dispose of long-lived, physical assets and mineral interests in oil and gas properties used for normal oil and gas operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=lxu_SecuredPromissoryNoteMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=lxu_WorkingCapitalRevolverMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=lxu_FourPointSevenFiveWorkingCapitalRevolverLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=lxu_FivePointSevenThreeSecuredPromissoryNoteDueTwoThousandAndNineteenMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=lxu_ElDoradoChemicalCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=lxu_FivePointThreeOneSecuredPromissoryNoteDueTwoThousandAndTwentyThreeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=lxu_OtherLongTermDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=lxu_SpringingFinancialCovenantMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=lxu_SeniorSecuredNotesDueTwoThousandAndNineteenMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=lxu_FivePointTwoFivePercentSecuredPromissoryNoteDueTwoThousandAndTwentyOneMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Long-Term Debt - Schedule of Long-Term Debt (Parenthetical) (Detail) - USD ($)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jan. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Aug. 01, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 411,511,000		$ 420,220,000
Secured Promissory Note Due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net proceeds from sale of oil and gas properties	3,500,000
Working Capital Revolver Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum amount of revolving credit facility		$ 50,000,000
Line of credit facility, additional borrowing capacity		25,000,000
Letters of credit maximum capacity		$ 10,000,000
Amount available for borrowing	$ 40,800,000
Maturity date	Jan. 17, 2022
Springing maturity date	90 days
4.75% Working Capital Revolver Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, interest rate	4.75%		4.75%
Long-term debt			$ 0
5.73% Secured Promissory Note Due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, effective Interest Rate	5.73%		5.73%
Long-term debt	$ 8,667,000		$ 9,167,000
5.73% Secured Promissory Note Due 2019 [Member] \| EL Dorado Chemical Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity date	Jun. 29, 2019
Debt instrument, frequency of interest payment	monthly
Final balloon payment	$ 6,700,000
5.31% Secured Promissory Note Due 2023 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, effective Interest Rate	5.31%		5.31%
Long-term debt	$ 17,655,000		$ 18,645,000
Debt instrument, frequency of interest payment	monthly
Final balloon payment	$ 6,100,000
Maturity month and year	2023-05
5.31% Secured Promissory Note Due 2023 [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument term	interest at a rate that is based on the monthly LIBOR rate plus a base rate.
Other [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted-average interest rate of other debt	4.53%		4.53%
Long-term debt	$ 3,553,000		$ 4,185,000
Springing Financials Covenant [Member] \| Working Capital Revolver Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Working capital revolver loan requirements	Borrowers must maintain (a) with respect to relevant periods ending on or prior to September 30, 2017, a minimum EBITDA in the amount set forth in the Working Capital Revolver Loan Amendment and (b) with respect to relevant periods ending after September 30, 2017, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1.00 to 1.00.
Maximum revolver commitment available, percentage	10.00%
Loan requirements description	Less than or equal to the greater of 10.0% of the total revolver commitments and $5 million.
Fixed charge coverage ratio	1.00%
Springing Financials Covenant [Member] \| Working Capital Revolver Loan [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 5,000,000
Senior Secured Notes Due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity date	Aug. 01, 2019
Long-term debt	$ 375,000,000		$ 375,000,000
Debt instrument, frequency of interest payment	Interest is to be paid semiannually on February 1st and August 1st.
Debt instrument, interest rate				7.75%	8.50%
5.25% Secured Promissory Note Due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, effective Interest Rate	5.25%		5.25%
Maturity date	Mar. 26, 2021
Long-term debt	$ 12,786,000		$ 14,272,000
Secured promissory note, payment term	Principal and interest are payable in monthly installments.