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Financial Instruments - Financial Instruments not Carried at Fair Value (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	$ 336.3us-gaap_MinorityInterest	$ 391.5us-gaap_MinorityInterest
Valhi stockholders' equity	477.6us-gaap_StockholdersEquity	601.3us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
Kronos Worldwide, Inc.
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	211.0us-gaap_MinorityInterest / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_KronosMember	241.9us-gaap_MinorityInterest / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_KronosMember
Kronos Worldwide, Inc. | Term Loan
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long term debt, carrying amount	345.9us-gaap_LongTermDebt / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_KronosMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_LoansPayableMember
Long term debt, fair value	341.5us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_KronosMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_LoansPayableMember
Kronos Worldwide, Inc. | Notes Payable, Other Payables | Contran
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long term debt, carrying amount		170.0us-gaap_LongTermDebt / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_KronosMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_NotesPayableOtherPayablesMember / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = vhi_ContranMember
Long term debt, fair value		170.0us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_KronosMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_NotesPayableOtherPayablesMember / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = vhi_ContranMember
Kronos Worldwide, Inc. | Credit Facility
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long term debt, carrying amount		11.1us-gaap_LongTermDebt / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_KronosMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
Long term debt, fair value		11.1us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_KronosMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
Snake River | Term Loan
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long term debt, carrying amount	250.0us-gaap_LongTermDebt / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_SnakeRiverMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_LoansPayableMember	250.0us-gaap_LongTermDebt / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_SnakeRiverMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_LoansPayableMember
Long term debt, fair value	250.0us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_SnakeRiverMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_LoansPayableMember	250.0us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_SnakeRiverMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_LoansPayableMember
WCS | Fixed Rate Loans
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long term debt, carrying amount	67.1us-gaap_LongTermDebt / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_WcsMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = vhi_FixedRateMortgageLoansMember	72.4us-gaap_LongTermDebt / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_WcsMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = vhi_FixedRateMortgageLoansMember
Long term debt, fair value	67.1us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_WcsMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = vhi_FixedRateMortgageLoansMember	72.4us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_WcsMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = vhi_FixedRateMortgageLoansMember
VALHI, INC. | Credit Facility | Contran
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long term debt, carrying amount	223.7us-gaap_LongTermDebt / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = vhi_ContranMember	206.5us-gaap_LongTermDebt / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = vhi_ContranMember
Long term debt, fair value	223.7us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = vhi_ContranMember	206.5us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember / us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis = vhi_ContranMember
Tremont | Promissory Note
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long term debt, carrying amount	17.4us-gaap_LongTermDebt / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_TremontMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember	19.1us-gaap_LongTermDebt / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_TremontMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
Long term debt, fair value	17.4us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_TremontMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember	19.1us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_TremontMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
BMI | Bank note payable
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long term debt, carrying amount	10.3us-gaap_LongTermDebt / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_BmiMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_NotesPayableToBanksMember	11.2us-gaap_LongTermDebt / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_BmiMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_NotesPayableToBanksMember
Long term debt, fair value	10.3us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_BmiMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_NotesPayableToBanksMember	11.2us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_BmiMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_NotesPayableToBanksMember
LandWell
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	24.8us-gaap_MinorityInterest / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_LandwellMember	27.8us-gaap_MinorityInterest / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_LandwellMember
LandWell | Unsecured Debt
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long term debt, carrying amount	3.1us-gaap_LongTermDebt / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_LandwellMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember	3.1us-gaap_LongTermDebt / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_LandwellMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
Long term debt, fair value	3.1us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_LandwellMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember	3.1us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_LandwellMember / us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
NL
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	54.4us-gaap_MinorityInterest / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_NlIndustriesIncMember	74.5us-gaap_MinorityInterest / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_NlIndustriesIncMember
CompX
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	14.4us-gaap_MinorityInterest / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_CompXMember	13.6us-gaap_MinorityInterest / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_CompXMember
Reported Value Measurement
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash equivalents	280.3vhi_CashAndEquivalentsAndRestrictedCashAndEquivalentsCurrentAndNoncurrentFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember	186.8vhi_CashAndEquivalentsAndRestrictedCashAndEquivalentsCurrentAndNoncurrentFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
Deferred payment obligation	8.5vhi_DeferredPaymentObligationFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember	8.2vhi_DeferredPaymentObligationFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
Valhi stockholders' equity	477.6us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember	601.3us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
Reported Value Measurement | Kronos Worldwide, Inc.
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	211.0us-gaap_MinorityInterest / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_KronosMember	241.9us-gaap_MinorityInterest / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_KronosMember
Reported Value Measurement | NL
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	54.4us-gaap_MinorityInterest / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_NlIndustriesIncMember	74.5us-gaap_MinorityInterest / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_NlIndustriesIncMember
Reported Value Measurement | CompX
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	14.4us-gaap_MinorityInterest / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_CompXMember	13.6us-gaap_MinorityInterest / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_CompXMember
Portion at Fair Value Measurement
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash equivalents	280.3vhi_CashAndEquivalentsAndRestrictedCashAndEquivalentsCurrentAndNoncurrentFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember	186.8vhi_CashAndEquivalentsAndRestrictedCashAndEquivalentsCurrentAndNoncurrentFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
Deferred payment obligation	8.5vhi_DeferredPaymentObligationFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember	8.2vhi_DeferredPaymentObligationFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
Valhi stockholders' equity	2,173.8us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember	5,916.7us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
Portion at Fair Value Measurement | Kronos Worldwide, Inc.
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	295.1us-gaap_MinorityInterest / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_KronosMember	431.6us-gaap_MinorityInterest / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_KronosMember
Portion at Fair Value Measurement | NL
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	71.3us-gaap_MinorityInterest / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_NlIndustriesIncMember	92.6us-gaap_MinorityInterest / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_NlIndustriesIncMember
Portion at Fair Value Measurement | CompX
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	$ 19.9us-gaap_MinorityInterest / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_CompXMember	$ 23.1us-gaap_MinorityInterest / us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis = us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = vhi_CompXMember

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- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

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The fair value amount of long-term debt 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

No definition available.

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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 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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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

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

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Section S99

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The fair value of cash and cash equivalent items, current restricted cash and equivalent items and noncurrent restricted cash and equivalent items. This element is for unclassified presentations, so both current and noncurrent components are included.

+ References

No definition available.

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Deferred payment obligation fair value disclosure.

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