Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Number of subsequent years we may not able to qualify as REIT if failed to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year	4 years
Valuation allowance	$ 45	$ 61
Net (decrease) and increase in valuation allowance	16	2
Domestic and foreign net operating loss, capital loss and tax credit carryovers	204
Deferred tax asset operating loss carryforwards	70
Net operating loss carryover expiration date	Our net operating loss carryovers expire through 2034, and our foreign capital loss carryovers have no expiration period.
Net operating loss carryover expiration year	2034
Expiration of tax credits	Our domestic alternative minimum tax credit carryovers have no expiration period and our foreign asset tax credit carryovers expire through 2017.
Tax credits expiration year	2017
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance	114	113
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds received	22	17	12
Statutory federal income tax rate	35.00%
Expected increase in unrecognized tax benefits within 12 months	4
Recognized material interest or penalties	0	0	0
Lower Limit
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Open tax year by major tax jurisdiction	2011
Upper Limit
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Open tax year by major tax jurisdiction	2014
Mexico
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Valuation allowance	27
Canada
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Valuation allowance	4
Brazil
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Valuation allowance	4
United States
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Valuation allowance	$ 10
Lower Limit
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Percentage of annual taxable income Host Inc is required to distribute	90.00%