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Business Segment Information - Additional Information (Detail)
Mar. 31, 2015
Kronos Worldwide, Inc.  
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]  
Direct controlling interest in subsidiary 50.00%vhi_DirectControllingInterestInSubsidiary
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= vhi_KronosMember
Indirect controlling interest in subsidiary 30.00%vhi_IndirectControllingInterestInSubsidiary
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= vhi_KronosMember
NL  
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]  
Total controlling interest 83.00%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= vhi_NlIndustriesIncMember
LandWell  
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]  
Direct controlling interest in subsidiary 27.00%vhi_DirectControllingInterestInSubsidiary
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= vhi_LandwellMember
Indirect controlling interest in subsidiary 50.00%vhi_IndirectControllingInterestInSubsidiary
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= vhi_LandwellMember
BMI  
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]  
Total controlling interest 63.00%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= vhi_BasicManagementMember