Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for the line of credit facility regardless of whether the facility has been used.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109500613&loc=SL6031897-161870

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Debt instrument accordion feature period, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	uslm_DebtInstrumentAccordionFeatureTerm
Namespace Prefix:	uslm_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the cash flow leverage ratio required under the terms of the credit agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	uslm_DebtInstrumentCashFlowLeverageRatio
Namespace Prefix:	uslm_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the pro forma cash flow leverage ratio required to be maintained by the entity to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire shares of its common stock.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	uslm_DebtInstrumentCovenantProformaCashFlowLeverageRatioForPurchaseRedeemOrAcquireSharesOfCommonStock
Namespace Prefix:	uslm_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity with accordion feature under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	uslm_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacityAccordionFeature
Namespace Prefix:	uslm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=uslm_NewRevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_PrimeRateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Period Type:

Banking Facilities and Debt (Details) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
Banking Facilities and Debt (Details) $ in Thousands	May 07, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 27, 2016 USD ($)	Oct. 26, 2016 USD ($)
Summary of outstanding debt
Total Debt		$ 0	$ 0
Maximum
Banking facilities and other debt
Pro forma Cash Flow Leverage Ratio to be maintained to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire shares of common stock		3.00
Cash flow leverage ratio	3.50
Revolving Facility
Banking facilities and other debt
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 75,000
Accordion feature period	4 years
Maximum borrowing capacity accordion feature	$ 50,000
Revolving Facility \| Minimum
Banking facilities and other debt
Commitment fee (as a percent)	0.20%
Revolving Facility \| Minimum \| LIBOR
Banking facilities and other debt
Interest rate margin (as a percent)	1.00%
Revolving Facility \| Minimum \| Lender's prime rate
Banking facilities and other debt
Interest rate margin (as a percent)	0.00%
Revolving Facility \| Maximum
Banking facilities and other debt
Commitment fee (as a percent)	0.35%
Interest rate margin (as a percent)	2.00%
Revolving Facility \| Maximum \| Lender's prime rate
Banking facilities and other debt
Interest rate margin (as a percent)	1.00%
Letter of Credit
Banking facilities and other debt
Maximum borrowing capacity				$ 10,000	$ 5,000
Revolving Facility
Banking facilities and other debt
Letters of credit outstanding		$ 1,246