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Commitments and contingencies - Approximate Percentage of TiO2 Sales by Volume for Segments (Detail) (Geographic Concentration Risk [Member], Component Segment [Member]) | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
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Europe [Member] |  |  |
Schedule Of Sales Revenue By Business Segment [Line Items] |  |  |
Sale of TiO2, percentage | 47.00% | 53.00% | 53.00%
North America [Member] |  |  |
Schedule Of Sales Revenue By Business Segment [Line Items] |  |  |
Sale of TiO2, percentage | 35.00% | 32.00% | 33.00%

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- Definition The percentage of net product revenue to total net revenue from the sale of goods as of year end. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: | vhi_
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