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Financial instruments - Financial Instruments not Carried at Fair Value (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash equivalents, Fair value	$ 395,900,000	$ 109,300,000
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash equivalents	395,900,000	109,300,000
Noncontrolling interest, Carrying amount	358,100,000	335,800,000
Valhi stockholders' equity, Carrying amount	733,600,000	657,200,000
Contran [Member] | Unsecured Revolving Demand Note Receivable [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Note receivable from Contran, fair value		11,200,000
Note receivable from Contran		11,200,000
Kronos Worldwide, Inc. [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Loans, Carrying amount	384,500,000
Variable rate bank credit facility, Carrying amount	13,200,000
Noncontrolling interest, Carrying amount	267,000,000	240,200,000
Kronos Worldwide, Inc. [Member] | Common stock [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest	442,600,000	409,400,000
Noncontrolling interest, Carrying amount	267,000,000	240,200,000
Kronos Worldwide, Inc. [Member] | 6.5% Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt instrument, fair value		362,600,000
Publicly-traded fixed rate debt - Kronos Senior Secured Notes		360,600,000
Kronos Worldwide, Inc. [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt instrument, fair value	396,800,000
Loans, Carrying amount	384,500,000
Kronos Worldwide, Inc. [Member] | Bank Credit Facility [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Variable rate bank credit facility, Fair value	13,200,000
Variable rate bank credit facility, Carrying amount	13,200,000
Snake River [Member] | Fixed Rate Loans [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt instrument, fair value	250,000,000	250,000,000
Loans, Carrying amount	250,000,000	250,000,000
WCS [Member] | Fixed Rate Loans [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt instrument, fair value	77,100,000	82,800,000
Loans, Carrying amount	77,100,000	82,800,000
Valhi Contran [Member] | Bank Credit Facility [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Variable rate bank credit facility, Fair value	157,600,000
Variable rate bank credit facility, Carrying amount	157,600,000
CompX [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Variable rate promissory note, Carrying amount	18,500,000	22,200,000
Noncontrolling interest, Carrying amount	13,300,000	11,000,000
CompX [Member] | Common stock [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest	23,400,000	23,900,000
Noncontrolling interest, Carrying amount	13,300,000	11,000,000
CompX [Member] | Bank Credit Facility [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Variable rate bank credit facility, Fair value		2,000,000
Variable rate bank credit facility, Carrying amount		2,000,000
CompX [Member] | Promissory Note [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Variable rate bank credit facility, Fair value	18,500,000	22,200,000
Variable rate promissory note, Carrying amount	18,500,000	22,200,000
NL [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Variable rate promissory note, Carrying amount		9,000,000
Noncontrolling interest, Carrying amount	77,800,000	84,600,000
NL [Member] | Common stock [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest	94,800,000	107,300,000
Noncontrolling interest, Carrying amount	77,800,000	84,600,000
NL [Member] | Promissory Note [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Variable rate bank credit facility, Fair value		9,000,000
Variable rate promissory note, Carrying amount		9,000,000
Valhi Inc [Member] | Stockholders' Equity, Total [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Valhi stockholders' equity, Fair value	4,238,900,000	6,835,300,000
Valhi stockholders' equity, Carrying amount	$ 733,600,000	$ 657,200,000

X

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

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X

- Definition

Amount of equity valued at fair value by the entity.

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

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X

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions 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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X

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. Fair value of lines of credit at the balance sheet date.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Line-of-Credit Arrangement

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6517033

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X

- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying value as of the balance sheet date of loans payable (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer).

+ References

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X

- Definition

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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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

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-Article 5



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 51

-Paragraph A3

-Appendix A



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-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 51

-Paragraph 26

-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.



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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

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X

- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of all types of notes payable, as of the balance sheet date, with initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

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X

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents notes payable as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

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-Paragraph 19, 20, 22

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. An amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Company (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date(s).

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X

- Definition

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

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)

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-Paragraph 16, 17

-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.



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- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.

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- Definition

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.

+ References

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- Definition

Estimated Noncontrolling Interest Fair Value

+ References

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- Definition

Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Fair Value Disclosure

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