Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenues and other income:
Net sales	$ 524.5	$ 584.1	$ 1,706.2	$ 1,612.9
Other income, net	8.2	21.1	40.1	46.7
Total revenues and other income	532.7	605.2	1,746.3	1,659.6
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	423.2	371.4	1,175.5	1,050.6
Selling, general and administrative	64.8	69.1	215.7	209.5
Loss (gain) on prepayment of debt		(0.1)	7.2	3.2
Assets held for sale write-down	0.4	1.1	0.4	1.1
Interest	14.6	15.2	42.5	48.3
Total costs and expenses	503.0	456.7	1,441.3	1,312.7
Income before income taxes	29.7	148.5	305.0	346.9
Provision for income taxes (benefit)	(2.1)	55.4	92.1	127.7
Net income	31.8	93.1	212.9	219.2
Noncontrolling interest in net income of subsidiaries	8.9	21.6	56.7	57.3
Net income attributable to Valhi stockholders	$ 22.9	$ 71.5	$ 156.2	$ 161.9
Amounts attributable to Valhi stockholders:
Basic and diluted earnings per share	$ 0.07	$ 0.21	$ 0.46	$ 0.47
Cash dividends per share	$ 0.050	$ 0.042	$ 0.142	$ 0.117
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding	342.0	342.0	342.0	342.1