Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 item	Sep. 30, 2012
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements
Number of subsidiaries of the parent that provide guarantee			0
Condensed, Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	$ 1,097.0	$ 1,359.4	$ 4,148.4	$ 4,622.6
Cost of sales	710.9	657.4	2,222.0	2,165.5
Gross margin	386.1	702.0	1,926.4	2,457.1
Selling, general and administrative expenses	32.2	36.5	121.0	111.6
Other operating - net	(20.3)	8.6	(9.2)	41.7
Total other operating costs and expenses	11.9	45.1	111.8	153.3
Equity in earnings of operating affiliates	11.2	10.2	32.3	39.5
Operating earnings	385.4	667.1	1,846.9	2,343.3
Interest expense	41.0	28.7	112.4	104.9
Interest income	(1.0)	(1.6)	(4.1)	(2.0)
Other non-operating - net	(0.3)	(0.2)	54.1	(0.9)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of non - operating affiliates	345.7	640.2	1,684.5	2,241.3
Income tax provision (benefit)	109.0	206.0	499.3	722.0
Equity in earnings (loss) of non-operating affiliates - net of taxes	7.2	23.9	6.2	48.8
Net earnings	243.9	458.1	1,191.4	1,568.1
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest	9.8	54.8	52.6	190.1
Net earnings attributable to common stockholders	234.1	403.3	1,138.8	1,378.0
Reportable legal entities | Parent
Condensed, Consolidating Statement of Operations
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0.5	0.5	2.2	2.0
Total other operating costs and expenses	0.5	0.5	2.2	2.0
Operating earnings	(0.5)	(0.5)	(2.2)	(2.0)
Net (earnings) of wholly-owned subsidiaries	(234.5)	(403.5)	(1,140.3)	(1,379.3)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of non - operating affiliates	234.0	403.0	1,138.1	1,377.3
Income tax provision (benefit)	(0.1)	(0.3)	(0.7)	(0.7)
Net earnings	234.1	403.3	1,138.8	1,378.0
Net earnings attributable to common stockholders	234.1	403.3	1,138.8	1,378.0
Reportable legal entities | CF Industries
Condensed, Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	281.1	766.8	885.8	2,738.4
Cost of sales	268.8	372.6	691.3	1,329.5
Gross margin	12.3	394.2	194.5	1,408.9
Selling, general and administrative expenses	2.0	30.5	6.8	92.2
Other operating - net	(1.8)	5.4	7.5	21.2
Total other operating costs and expenses	0.2	35.9	14.3	113.4
Equity in earnings of operating affiliates		0.4		1.5
Operating earnings	12.1	358.7	180.2	1,297.0
Interest expense	44.7	27.1	110.2	98.1
Interest income	(0.1)	(0.4)	(0.7)	(0.8)
Net (earnings) of wholly-owned subsidiaries	(254.6)	(191.1)	(1,094.2)	(604.1)
Other non-operating - net	(0.2)	(0.1)	(0.2)	0.1
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of non - operating affiliates	222.3	523.2	1,165.1	1,803.7
Income tax provision (benefit)	(12.2)	119.7	24.7	424.3
Equity in earnings (loss) of non-operating affiliates - net of taxes			(0.1)	(0.1)
Net earnings	234.5	403.5	1,140.3	1,379.3
Net earnings attributable to common stockholders	234.5	403.5	1,140.3	1,379.3
Reportable legal entities | Other Subsidiaries
Condensed, Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	1,207.3	715.1	4,374.3	2,271.1
Cost of sales	833.4	320.5	2,638.3	941.2
Gross margin	373.9	394.6	1,736.0	1,329.9
Selling, general and administrative expenses	29.8	5.5	112.1	17.4
Other operating - net	(18.5)	3.2	(16.7)	20.5
Total other operating costs and expenses	11.3	8.7	95.4	37.9
Equity in earnings of operating affiliates	11.2	9.8	32.3	38.0
Operating earnings	373.8	395.7	1,672.9	1,330.0
Interest expense	(3.6)	2.2	3.2	7.8
Interest income	(1.0)	(1.8)	(4.4)	(2.2)
Other non-operating - net	(0.1)	(0.1)	54.3	(1.0)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of non - operating affiliates	378.5	395.4	1,619.8	1,325.4
Income tax provision (benefit)	121.3	86.6	475.3	298.4
Equity in earnings (loss) of non-operating affiliates - net of taxes	7.2	23.9	6.3	48.9
Net earnings	264.4	332.7	1,150.8	1,075.9
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest	9.8	141.6	56.6	471.8
Net earnings attributable to common stockholders	254.6	191.1	1,094.2	604.1
Eliminations
Condensed, Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	(391.4)	(122.5)	(1,111.7)	(386.9)
Cost of sales	(391.3)	(35.7)	(1,107.6)	(105.2)
Gross margin	(0.1)	(86.8)	(4.1)	(281.7)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(0.1)		(0.1)
Total other operating costs and expenses	(0.1)		(0.1)
Operating earnings		(86.8)	(4.0)	(281.7)
Interest expense	(0.1)	(0.6)	(1.0)	(1.0)
Interest income	0.1	0.6	1.0	1.0
Net (earnings) of wholly-owned subsidiaries	489.1	594.6	2,234.5	1,983.4
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of non - operating affiliates	(489.1)	(681.4)	(2,238.5)	(2,265.1)
Net earnings	(489.1)	(681.4)	(2,238.5)	(2,265.1)
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest		(86.8)	(4.0)	(281.7)
Net earnings attributable to common stockholders	$ (489.1)	$ (594.6)	$ (2,234.5)	$ (1,983.4)