CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (126.9)	$ 222.1	$ 295.0
Depreciation and amortization	74.5	69.4	63.8
Net (gain) loss from:
Bargain purchase and remeasurement of existing investment in acquiree	(54.6)
Litigation settlement		(14.7)
Sale of discontinued operations		(23.7)
Securities transactions, net	(0.2)	(21.8)	0.6
Disposal of property and equipment, net	0.5	(1.5)	0.9
Loss on prepayment of debt, net	8.9	7.2	3.1
Call premium paid		(6.2)	(2.5)
Assets held for sale write-down		1.2	1.1
Goodwill impairment		6.4
Noncash interest expense	1.5	2.6	5.5
Benefit plan expense greater (less) than cash funding requirements:
Defined benefit pension expense	8.9	(3.3)	0.4
Other postretirement benefit expense	(1.9)	(1.4)	(1.8)
Deferred income taxes	(114.8)	51.5	95.3
Equity in joint venture earnings	(0.5)	0.2	0.5
Net distributions from (contributions to) TiO2 manufacturing joint venture, net	10.9	(20.7)	3.8
Other, net	6.5	(3.1)	1.3
Change in assets and liabilities:
Accounts and other receivables, net	22.9	(6.7)	(47.9)
Inventories, net	220.0	(184.6)	(184.3)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	73.4	(44.2)	96.1
Income taxes	(9.6)	(20.0)	19.8
Accounts with affiliates	(18.7)	65.4	(36.6)
Other noncurrent assets	(2.1)	(11.7)	(3.3)
Other noncurrent liabilities	0.2	11.8	(13.2)
Other, net	18.2	(2.3)	(5.2)
Net cash provided by operating activities	117.1	71.9	292.4
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(74.6)	(98.8)	(146.2)
Capitalized permit costs	(1.5)	(4.1)	(8.9)
Acquisition of a businesses	(5.3)		(4.8)
Cash of discontinued operations		(5.4)
Cash of businesses acquired	27.4
Proceeds from:
Sale of business	0	58.0	0.3
Real estate-related litigation settlement	0	15.6	0
Collection of real-estate related note receivable	3.0	0	15.0
Disposal of assets held for sale	1.6	3.6	0
Loan to affiliate:
Loan		(52.8)	(11.2)
Collection		64.0	0
Change in restricted cash equivalents, net	(9.9)	(15.7)	(3.0)
Other, net	(0.1)	7.1	(8.0)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(56.2)	100.9	(220.9)
Indebtedness:
Borrowings	493.8	732.8	121.3
Principal payments	(693.3)	(546.0)	(328.8)
Deferred financing costs paid		(7.2)	(0.1)
Valhi cash dividends paid	(67.9)	(65.0)	(53.7)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	(18.2)	(18.6)	(29.3)
Purchase of Kronos common stock	(0.7)
Treasury stock acquired	0	0	(9.5)
Issuance of Valhi common stock and other, net	0.1	0	0.3
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(286.2)	96.0	(299.8)
Cash and cash equivalents - net change from:
Operating, investing and financing activities	(225.3)	268.8	(228.3)
Effect of exchange rates on cash	1.2	1.7	(0.4)
Net change for the year	(224.1)	270.5	(228.7)
Balance at beginning of year	366.9	96.4	325.1
Balance at end of year	142.8	366.9	96.4
Cash paid for:
Interest, net of amounts capitalized (including call premium paid)	55.0	65.5	67.0
Income taxes, net	15.6	71.0	73.8
Noncash investing activities:
Accruals for capital expenditures	4.6	16.1	23.5
Noncash Amounts Issued In Connection With Business Combination
Noncash financing activities:
Promissory note	19.1	0	0
Deferred payment obligation	8.2	0	0
Construction retainage payable converted into note payable
Noncash financing activities:
Promissory note	2.8
Mutual Funds
Purchases of:
Marketable securities	0	0	(272.8)
Proceeds from:
Disposal of marketable securities		21.1	251.0
Other
Purchases of:
Marketable securities	(7.9)	(11.7)	(6.9)
Proceeds from:
Disposal of marketable securities	11.1	12.4	5.0
TIMET
Purchases of:
Marketable securities	0	0	(30.4)
Proceeds from:
Disposal of marketable securities		$ 107.6	$ 0