The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the noncurrent portion of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

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Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which is directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (that is, noncontrolling interest, previously referred to as minority interest).

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-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

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For an unclassified balance sheet, amounts due from parties associated with the reporting entity as evidenced by a written promise to pay.

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-Topic 850

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Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which are attributable to the parent. The amount of the economic entity's stockholders' equity attributable to the parent excludes the amount of stockholders' equity which is allocable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (noncontrolling interest, minority interest). This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity.

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Financial instruments and fair value measurements (Details 1) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2011 EUR (€)	Jun. 30, 2012 Kronos [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Kronos [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 CompX [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 CompX [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 NL Industries Inc [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 NL Industries Inc [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Carrying amount [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Carrying amount [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Carrying amount [Member] Kronos International [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Carrying amount [Member] Kronos [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Carrying amount [Member] Kronos [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Carrying amount [Member] WCS [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Carrying amount [Member] WCS [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Carrying amount [Member] CompX [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Carrying amount [Member] CompX [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Carrying amount [Member] NL Industries Inc [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Carrying amount [Member] NL Industries Inc [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Fair value [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Fair value [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Fair value [Member] Kronos International [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Fair value [Member] Kronos [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Fair value [Member] Kronos [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Fair value [Member] WCS [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Fair value [Member] WCS [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Fair value [Member] CompX [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Fair value [Member] CompX [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Fair value [Member] NL Industries Inc [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Fair value [Member] NL Industries Inc [Member] USD ($)
Financial instruments not carried at fair value
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash Equivalents										$ 119.3	$ 109.3										$ 119.3	$ 109.3
Note receivable from Contran										11.2	11.2										11.2	11.2
Publicly-traded fixed rate debt - KII Senior Secured Notes			400.0									360.6											362.6
Kronos term loan	400.0			394.0									394.0											394.0
Fixed rate loans										250.0	250.0				82.3	82.8					250.0	250.0				82.3	82.8
Variable rate bank credit facilities						2.0	2.0						99.5				2.0	2.0						99.5				2.0	2.0
Promissory note						21.0	22.2	5.1	9.0								21.0	22.2	5.1	9.0								21.0	22.2	5.1	9.0
Noncontrolling interest	353.1	335.8		265.4	240.2	11.1	11.0	76.6	84.6				265.4	240.2			11.1	11.0	76.6	84.6				358.4	409.4			20.6	23.9	103.2	107.3
Valhi stockholders' equity	$ 732.2	$ 657.2								$ 732.2	$ 657.2										$ 4,235.5	$ 6,835.3