Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment assets, including oil and gas property and timber property.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in settlement of litigation and insurance claims. Excludes claims within an insurance entity's normal claims settlement process.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

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- Definition

The difference between the carrying value and the sale price of an investment. A gain would be recognized when the sale price of the investment is greater than the carrying value of the investment. This element refers to the Gain included in earnings and not to the cash proceeds of the sale.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The amount recovered from insurance. These recoveries reduce costs and losses that are reported as a separate line item under operating expenses.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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- Definition

Amount of operating dividend and interest income, including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts, on securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 35

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27723805&loc=d3e24721-111560

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 2, 3

-Article 9

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.2,3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

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- Definition

Cash received for the settlement of litigation during the current period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 25

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3536-108585

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the sale of equity securities classified as available-for-sale securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3179-108585

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 11

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6871852&loc=d3e26853-111562

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- Definition

Per share amount received by subsidiary or equity investee for each share of common stock issued or sold in the stock transaction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Available for sale securities shares owned.

+ References

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	vhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Common stock ownership percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	vhi_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Other Income, Net - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	May 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012
Disclosure Other Income Net Additional Information Detail [Line Items]
Dividends and interest income	$ 26.6	$ 26.4	$ 28.4
Insurance recoveries	10.4us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries	9.4us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries	3.3us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries
Disposal of property and equipment, net	(0.9)	(0.5)	1.5
Aggregate cash received			15.6us-gaap_ProceedsFromLegalSettlements
Litigation settlement gains			14.7
TIMET
Disclosure Other Income Net Additional Information Detail [Line Items]
Investment in common stock					6.5
Percentage of outstanding common stock held					3.70%
Sale of common stock				107.6
Sale of common stock, price per share			$ 16.50	$ 16.50
Pre-tax gain on sale of shares				21.6
Amalgamated Sugar Company LLC
Disclosure Other Income Net Additional Information Detail [Line Items]
Dividends and interest income	25.4	25.4	25.4
NL
Disclosure Other Income Net Additional Information Detail [Line Items]
Disposal of property and equipment, net			3.2
NL \| Certain Real Property Litigation Settlement
Disclosure Other Income Net Additional Information Detail [Line Items]
Aggregate cash received						15.6
Litigation settlement gains							$ 14.7