Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands, CAD in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 CAD	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Dividends received from Kronos Worldwide, Inc.	$ 5,283	$ 5,283
Income tax payable current	33			$ 26
Kronos
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Dividends received from Kronos Worldwide, Inc.	5,300	$ 5,300
Non-cash income tax benefit	$ 5,000
Kronos | US-Canada APA
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
U.S.-Canada Advance Pricing Agreement, description	Tax authorities are examining certain of Kronos’ U.S. and non-U.S. tax returns and have or may propose tax deficiencies, including penalties and interest. Because of the inherent uncertainties involved in settlement initiatives and court and tax proceedings, Kronos cannot guarantee that these matters will be resolved in its favor, and therefore Kronos’ potential exposure, if any, is also uncertain. As a result of ongoing audits in certain jurisdictions, in 2008 Kronos filed Advance Pricing Agreement Requests with the tax authorities in the U.S., Canada and Germany. These requests have been under review with the respective tax authorities since 2008 and prior to 2016, it was uncertain whether an agreement would be reached between the tax authorities and whether Kronos would agree to execute and finalize such agreements. During 2016, Contran, as the ultimate parent of Kronos’ U.S. Consolidated income tax group, executed and finalized an Advance Pricing Agreement with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and Kronos’ Canadian subsidiary executed and finalized an Advance Pricing Agreement with the Competent Authority for Canada (collectively, the “U.S.-Canada APA”) effective for tax years 2005 - 2015.
Kronos | US-Canada APA | Earliest Tax Year
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Effective tax year	2005
Kronos | US-Canada APA | Latest Tax Year
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Effective tax year	2015
Kronos Canadian Subsidiary | US-Canada APA
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Income tax payable	$ 2,300		CAD 3
Income tax payable current	$ 2,300