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Business and Geographic Segments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2014 Segment | Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Number of operating segments | 4 us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments |
Non-U.S. subsidiaries |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Net assets of non-U.S. subsidiaries | 703 us-gaap_AssetsNet / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = vhi_NonUSSubsidiariesMember | $ 708 us-gaap_AssetsNet / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = vhi_NonUSSubsidiariesMember
Kronos Worldwide, Inc. |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Direct controlling interest in subsidiary | 50.00%vhi_DirectControllingInterestInSubsidiary / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_KronosMember |
Indirect controlling interest in subsidiary | 30.00%vhi_IndirectControllingInterestInSubsidiary / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_KronosMember |
NL |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Total controlling interest | 83.00%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_NlIndustriesIncMember |
BMI |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Total controlling interest | 63.00%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_BasicManagementMember |
LandWell |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |
Direct controlling interest in subsidiary | 27.00%vhi_DirectControllingInterestInSubsidiary / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_LandwellMember |
Indirect controlling interest in subsidiary | 50.00%vhi_IndirectControllingInterestInSubsidiary / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_LandwellMember |

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- Definition Amount of net assets (liabilities). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (SX 210.6-09.6,7) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488393&loc=d3e606914-122999 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35686370&loc=SL35686385-199418 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.6-05.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488278&loc=d3e604008-122996 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 05 -Paragraph 4 -Article 6 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 09 -Paragraph 19 -Article 6 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Number of operating segments. An operating segment is a component of an enterprise: (a) that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses (including revenues and expenses relating to transactions with other components of the same enterprise), (b) whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the enterprise's chief operating decision maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and (c) for which discrete financial information is available. An operating segment may engage in business activities for which it has yet to earn revenues, for example, start-up operations may be operating segments before earning revenues. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments
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Balance Type: | na
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- Details
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- Definition Controlling interest in subsidiary held directly by parent. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | vhi_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Controlling interest in subsidiary held indirectly through controlled subsidiary of parent. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | vhi_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=vhi_KronosMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=vhi_LandwellMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |