Long-Term Debt - Stated Interest Rate on Secured Term Loan (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Variable interest rate, Principal Balance	$ 45,625
Fixed interest rate, Principal Balance	22,813
Weighted-average interest rate, Principal Balance	$ 68,438
Variable interest rate, Stated Interest Rate	3.31%
Fixed interest rate, Stated Interest Rate	5.15%
Weighted-average interest rate, Stated Interest Rate	3.92%

Name:	lxu_DebtDisclosureLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	lxu_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The portion of the carrying amount of long-term borrowings outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a weighted average rate subject to change from time to time.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lxu_LongTermDebtPercentageBearingWeightedAverageInterestAmount
Namespace Prefix:	lxu_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The portion of the carrying amount of long-term borrowings outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a set, unchanging rate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtPercentageBearingFixedInterestAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The interest rate applicable to the portion of the carrying amount of long-term borrowings outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a set, unchanging rate.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtPercentageBearingFixedInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The portion of the carrying amount of long-term borrowings outstanding as of the balance sheet date, including current maturities, which accrues interest at a rate subject to change from time to time.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtPercentageBearingVariableInterestAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtPercentageBearingVariableInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Reflects the calculation as of the balance sheet date of the average interest rate weighted by the amount of long-term debt outstanding by type or by instrument at that time.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant