CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues and other income:
Net sales	$ 2,087.3	$ 2,025.1	$ 1,533.5
Other income, net	70.6	49.0	58.9
Total revenues and other income	2,157.9	2,074.1	1,592.4
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	1,512.1	1,278.4	1,184.3
Selling, general and administrative	273.3	268.9	227.1
Litigation settlement and contract termination expense			33.3
Loss on prepayment of debt, net	7.2	3.1
Goodwill impairment	6.4
Assets held for sale write-down	1.2	1.1	0.5
Interest	56.3	61.8	68.4
Total costs and expenses	1,856.5	1,613.3	1,513.6
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	301.4	460.8	78.8
Provision for income taxes	104.8	169.9	14.5
Income from continuing operations	196.6	290.9	64.3
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	25.5	4.1	(0.5)
Net income	222.1	295.0	63.8
Noncontrolling interest in net income of subsidiaries	62.3	77.5	13.5
Net income attributable to Valhi stockholders	159.8	217.5	50.3
Amounts attributable to Valhi stockholders:
Income from continuing operations	141.4	214.5	50.7
Net income attributable to Valhi stockholders	159.8	217.5	50.3
Basic and diluted net income per share:
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.41	$ 0.63	$ 0.14
Income from discontinued operations	$ 0.06	$ 0.01
Net income per share	$ 0.47	$ 0.64	$ 0.14
Cash dividends per share	$ 0.192	$ 0.158	$ 0.133
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding	342.0	342.1	343.0
Net of Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Amounts attributable to Valhi stockholders:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	$ 18.4	$ 3.0	$ (0.4)