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Business and Geographic Segments - Segment Operating Performance (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 | Sep. 30, 2020 | Jun. 30, 2020 | Mar. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Sep. 30, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Mar. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales | $ 516.8 | $ 458.6 | $ 415.0 | $ 459.3 | $ 414.1 | $ 475.2 | $ 528.6 | $ 479.6 | $ 1,849.7 | $ 1,897.5 | $ 1,820.1
Cost of sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,437.6 | 1,462.9 | 1,210.9
Gross margin | 118.7 | 89.7 | 104.0 | 99.7 | 91.2 | 98.4 | 123.2 | 121.8 | 412.1 | 434.6 | 609.2
Operating income | $ 46.9 | $ 28.9 | $ 39.3 | $ 71.0 | 25.0 | $ 41.4 | 65.9 | $ 60.4 | 186.1 | 192.7 | 370.7
Securities earnings |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4.7 | 11.2 | 38.5
Insurance recoveries |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7.7 |  | 1.6 | 7.7 | 1.3
Gain on land sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0.5 | 4.4 | 12.5
Gain on sale of business |  |  |  |  | $ 3.0 |  |  |  | 4.9 | 3.0 | 58.4
Other components of net periodic pension and OPEB expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (20.1) | (16.5) | (14.5)
Litigation settlement expense, net |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (19.3) |  |  | (19.3) | (62.0)
Changes in market value of Valhi common stock held by subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1.7) | (0.2) | (12.2)
General expenses, net |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (34.3) | (37.5) | (42.4)
Interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (36.2) | (40.8) | (55.7)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.6 | 104.7 | 236.2
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 68.5 | 56.8 | 58.4
Capital expenditures |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 65.5 | 59.9 | 61.4
Chemicals |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,638.8 | 1,731.2 | 1,661.9
Cost of sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,291.0 | 1,346.8 | 1,101.7
Gross margin |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 347.8 | 384.4 | 560.2
Operating income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 126.5 | 160.1 | 342.9
Chemicals | Operating Segment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 61.9 | 50.2 | 52.0
Capital expenditures |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 62.8 | 55.1 | 56.3
Component Products |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 114.5 | 124.2 | 118.2
Cost of sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 81.7 | 85.3 | 79.9
Gross margin |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 32.8 | 38.9 | 38.3
Operating income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 11.8 | 17.8 | 17.8
Component Products | Operating Segment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.5
Capital expenditures |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1.7 | 3.2 | 3.1
Real Estate Management And Development |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 96.4 | 42.1 | 40.0
Cost of sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 64.9 | 30.8 | 29.3
Gross margin |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 31.5 | 11.3 | 10.7
Operating income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 47.8 | 14.8 | 10.0
Real Estate Management And Development | Operating Segment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2.8 | 2.9 | 2.9
Capital expenditures |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1.0 | $ 1.6 | 1.9
Waste Management | Operating Segment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Capital expenditures |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0.1

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Name: | vhi_SecuritiesEarnings
Namespace Prefix: | vhi_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=vhi_ChemicalsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=vhi_ComponentProductsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=vhi_RealEstateManagementAndDevelopmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=vhi_WasteManagementMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |