Other Income, Net - Schedule of Components of Other Income (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Securities earnings:
Dividends and interest	$ 6.6	$ 6.7
Securities transactions, net	0.1us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfSecuritiesNet	0.1us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfSecuritiesNet
Total	6.7vhi_SecuritiesEarnings	6.8vhi_SecuritiesEarnings
Foreign currency transactions, net	1.6	(2.7)
Insurance recoveries	3.1us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries	0.8us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries
Other, net	0.7us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncome	0.2us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncome
Total	$ 12.1us-gaap_OtherIncome	$ 5.1us-gaap_OtherIncome

Amount before tax of foreign currency transaction realized and unrealized gain (loss) recognized in the income statement.

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

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The net gain (loss) realized from the sale, exchange, redemption, or retirement of securities, not separately or otherwise categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity.

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

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Reflects the sum of all other revenue and income recognized by the entity in the period not otherwise specified in the income statement.

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The aggregate amount of other income amounts, the components of which are not separately disclosed on the income statement, resulting from ancillary business-related activities (that is, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business) also known as other nonoperating income recognized for the period. Such amounts may include: (a) dividends, (b) interest on securities, (c) profits on securities (net of losses), and (d) miscellaneous other income items.

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