Segment Information - Segment Financial Information (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Recognized recovery of precious metals		$ 4.5		$ 4.5
Interest cost capitalized	3.9	1.2	9.2	2.1
Chemical [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Business interruption and property insurance recoveries	0	4.2	28.0	18.4
Cost of sales [Member] \| Chemical [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Business interruption loss	$ 0	$ 4.2	$ 22.9	$ 18.4

The amount of recoverable costs included in an insurance claim.

No definition available.

Name:	lxu_InsuranceClaimRecoverableCosts
Namespace Prefix:	lxu_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Recovery (during a major maintenance or capital project) of precious metals previously expensed as consumed as a catalyst in the chemical manufacturing process, which have accumulated over time within manufacturing equipment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	lxu_RecoveryOfPreciousMetals
Namespace Prefix:	lxu_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- 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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of interest capitalized during the period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Allowance for Funds Used during Construction

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6504829

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450988&loc=d3e26243-108391

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration