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Summary of significant accounting policies - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) a	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Capitalized interest costs on property and equipment	$ 1,700,000	$ 1,400,000	$ 800,000
Percentage of likelihood for recognition of uncertain tax positions	50.00%
Recognition of receivables for recoveries	$ 0	0
Standard payment terms	less than one year
Shipping and handling costs	$ 1,732,100,000	1,716,200,000	1,437,600,000
Advertising costs	2,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000
Research, development and certain sales technical support costs	$ 16,000,000	17,000,000	16,000,000
Louisiana Pigment Company
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage owned manufacturing joint venture under equity method investment	50.00%
Chemicals
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Shipping and handling costs	$ 1,540,200,000	1,494,500,000	1,291,000,000.0
Chemicals \| Louisiana Pigment Company
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage owned manufacturing joint venture under equity method investment	50.00%
Shipping and Handling \| Chemicals
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Shipping and handling costs	$ 122,000,000	132,000,000	112,000,000
Residential/Planned Community
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Area of real estate property \| a	2,100
Commercial and Light Industrial Use
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Area of real estate property \| a	400
Residential Housing Unit \| Minimum
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of sales price	2.50%
Residential Housing Unit \| Maximum [Member]
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of sales price	3.50%
Contran
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Net cash payments received from/paid to tax group parent	$ 17,500,000	$ 25,500,000	$ 6,300,000
Contran \| Valhi Incorporation
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Parent company ownership interest	92.00%