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Related party transactions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
LPC [Member] |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |
Purchase of Ti02 from LPC | $ 250,200,000 | $ 144,800,000 | $ 133,700,000
Sales of feedstock ore to LPC | 143,700,000 | 93,000,000 | 5,200,000
Note Payable TFMC [Member] | CompX [Member] |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |
Interest expense | 300,000 | 500,000 | 600,000
Financial Assurance to Texas Government Agencies [Member] | Additional Collateral Trust [Member] | WCS [Member] |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |
Marketable securities released | 122,400,000 |  |
Contran [Member] | Unsecured Revolving Demand Note Receivable [Member] |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |
Unsecured Revolving Demand Promissory note |  | 65,000,000 |
Interest at prime plus rate | 6.25% | 3.00% |
Debt due date, start date | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2013 |
Loans outstanding to Contran |  | 11,200,000 |
Promissory note received from sale of portion of excess insurance reserve to BMI | 52,800,000 |  |
Loan repayment received | 64,000,000 |  |
Contran [Member] | Revolving credit facility [Member] |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |
Interest expense | 100,000 | 500,000 | 3,900,000
Contran [Member] | Performance Guarantee [Member] | WCS [Member] |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |
Decommissioning obligations | 5,500,000 | 5,500,000 | 5,500,000
Contran [Member] | Performance Guarantee [Member] | Collateral [Member] | LLRW Disposal Facility [Member] |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |
Marketable securities as collateral |  | 49,200,000 |
Collateral pledge fee | 700,000 | 100,000 |
Pledged marketable securities released on | Nov. 30, 2016 |  |
Contran [Member] | Performance Guarantee [Member] | Letter of credit [Member] | WCS [Member] |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |
Related Party Transaction | 100,000 | 100,000 | 100,000
Decommissioning obligations | 5,900,000 | 5,900,000 | 5,900,000
Contran [Member] | Financial Assurance to Texas Government Agencies [Member] | Surety Bond [Member] | VALHI, INC. [Member] | WCS [Member] |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |
Debt guaranteed |  | 20,000,000 |
Contran [Member] | Interest Income [Member] | Unsecured Revolving Demand Note Receivable [Member] |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |
Interest income | 800,000 | 36,000 |
Contran [Member] | Intercorporate Services Agreements Fees [Member] |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |
Related Party Transaction | 32,000,000 | 27,100,000 | 25,100,000
Contran [Member] | Intercorporate Services Agreements Fees [Member] | Scenario, Forecast [Member] |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |
Related Party Transaction | 36,100,000 |  |
Utility Services Fee [Member] | BMI [Member] | TIMET [Member] |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |
Related Party Transaction | 1,800,000 | 1,600,000 | 1,400,000
TIMET [Member] | BMI [Member] | Sale Of Insurance Coverage [Member] |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |
Interest income |  | 2,800,000 |
Promissory note received from sale of portion of excess insurance reserve to BMI |  | 1,400,000 |
Promissory note bears interest rate |  | 3.00% |
TIMET [Member] | BMI [Member] | Cash [Member] | Sale Of Insurance Coverage [Member] |  |  |
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] |  |  |
Interest income |  | $ 1,400,000 |

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- Definition The fair value of available-for-sale securities that serve as collateral for borrowings. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 01-6 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph i -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=d3e5086-111524 + Details
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- Definition Amount of fees associated with providing collateral for the debt instrument. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 129 -Paragraph 2, 4 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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- Definition Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 45 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248 + Details
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- Definition The amount of interest expense incurred during the period on a debt or other obligation to a related party. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition For an unclassified balance sheet, reflects the carrying amount of unpaid loan amounts due from related parties at the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher OTS -Name Federal Regulation (FR) -Number Title 12 -Section 563c.102 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph j -Chapter V -Subsection I -LegacyDoc This is a non-GAAP reference that was included in the 2009 taxonomy. It will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 7 -Subparagraph e -Article 9 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 850 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 57 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph d -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(e)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
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- Definition Reflects the amount of new advances made to related parties in the form of loan and lease receivables. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher OTS -Name Federal Regulation (FR) -Number Title 12 -Section 563c.102 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph j -Chapter V -Subsection I -LegacyDoc This is a non-GAAP reference that was included in the 2009 taxonomy. It will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 7 -Subparagraph e -Article 9 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 850 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 57 -Paragraph 2 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(e)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
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- Definition The percentage points (also referred to as 'margin') added to the reference rate as stated in the loan agreement and used to compute the variable rate on the loans receivable. For instance, the loan agreement might state that the interest rate the borrower is obligated to pay is the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus three quarters (3/4) of a percentage point adjusted quarterly (each three months). LIBOR in this example is the index or reference rate, 3/4 percentage point is the margin, the reference rate plus the margin is the fully indexed rate. This element would be used to report separately the margin. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of transactions with related party during the financial reporting period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 850 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 850 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39603-107864 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 850 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39622-107864 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 57 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph c -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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- Definition Date of maturity or expiration of arrangements with a related party (for example, but not limited to, leasing and debt arrangements between related parties), in CCYY-MM-DD format. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Expenses recognized resulting from transactions (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 57 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph c -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 850 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864 + Details
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- Details
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- Definition Reflects the sum of all other revenue and income realized from sales and other transactions (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Purchases during the period (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The cash inflow from a loan, supported by a promissory note, granted to related parties where one party can exercise control or significant influence over another party; including affiliates, owners or officers and their immediate families, pension trusts, and so forth. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Financing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 18, 19, 20 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3255-108585 + Details
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- Definition Amount of revenue, fees and commissions earned from transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiaries; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) an entity and trusts for the benefit of employees, for example, but not limited to, pension and profit-sharing trusts that are managed by or under the trusteeship of the entity's management; (d) an entity and its principal, owners, management, or members of their immediate families; and (e) affiliates. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Related Parties -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=16382449 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07.1(c)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488393&loc=d3e606610-122999 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 57 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph c -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 07 -Paragraph b -Subparagraph 1 -Article 6 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(e)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 1 -Article 5 + Details
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- Definition Guarantee Obligations Increase Maximum Exposure + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Loan Receivable Interest Rate Stated Percentage + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Pledged Collateral Release Date + References No definition available. + Details
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