Long-Term Debt - Valhi - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Notes Payable, Other Payables \| Snake River
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term loan	$ 250.0
Loans bear interest at a weighted average fixed interest rate	9.40%
Loans maturity period	Jan. 31, 2027
Recourse loans	37.5
Nonrecourse loans	212.5
Line of Credit \| Contran
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowing availability	275.0
Debt instrument, Interest rate at period end	4.25%
Debt due date, start date	Dec. 31, 2015
Credit facility, Amount borrowed	48.9	157.6
Amount available for borrowing	$ 68.5
Debt instrument, Variable rate spread	1.00%

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

No definition available.

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- Definition

The effective interest rate at the end of the reporting period.

+ References

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- Details

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- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

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- Definition

Earliest date the outstanding debt instruments are required to be repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

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- Definition

Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

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- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

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- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying value as of the balance sheet date of loans payable (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer).

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- Definition

Amount of debt for which creditor does not have general recourse to the debtor but rather has recourse only to the property used for collateral in the transaction or other specific property.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of cash inflow from contractual arrangement with the lender, including but not limited to, letter of credit, standby letter of credit and revolving credit arrangements.

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- Definition

Amount of debt for which creditor has general recourse to the debtor.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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