Cover [Abstract] Document Type Document Type Document Quarterly Report Document Quarterly Report Document Period End Date Document Period End Date Document Transition Report Document Transition Report Entity File Number Entity File Number Entity Registrant Name Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Central Index Key Entity Incorporation State Country Code Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code Entity Tax Identification Number Entity Tax Identification Number Entity Address Address Line1 Entity Address, Address Line One Entity Address Address Line2 Entity Address, Address Line Two Entity Address City Or Town Entity Address, City or Town Entity Address State Or Province Entity Address, State or Province Entity Address Postal Zip Code Entity Address, Postal Zip Code City Area Code City Area Code Local Phone Number Local Phone Number Security12b Title Title of 12(b) Security Trading Symbol Trading Symbol Security Exchange Name Security Exchange Name Entity Interactive Data Current Entity Interactive Data Current Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Filer Category Entity Small Business Entity Small Business Entity Emerging Growth Company Entity Emerging Growth Company Entity Shell Company Entity Shell Company Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Current Fiscal Year End Date Current Fiscal Year End Date Amendment Flag Amendment Flag Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Assets [Abstract] ASSETS Assets Current [Abstract] Current assets: Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value Restricted cash equivalents Marketable Securities Current Marketable securities Market value, current Accounts And Other Receivables Net Current Accounts and other receivables, net Total Inventory Net Inventories, net Total Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current Prepaid expenses and other Assets Current Total current assets Other Assets Noncurrent [Abstract] Other assets: Marketable Securities Noncurrent Marketable securities Market value, noncurrent Investments In Affiliates Subsidiaries Associates And Joint Ventures Investment in TiO2 manufacturing joint venture Goodwill Goodwill Deferred Income Tax Assets Net Deferred income taxes Other Assets Noncurrent Other assets Total Assets noncurrent excluding property plant and equipment net. Assets Noncurrent Excluding Property Plant And Equipment Net Total other assets Property Plant And Equipment Net [Abstract] Property and equipment: Land Land Buildings And Improvements Gross Buildings Machinery And Equipment Gross Equipment Mining properties consist of buildings and equipment used in mining operations and costs associated with the development of new mine areas. Mining Properties Mining properties Construction In Progress Gross Construction in progress Property Plant And Equipment Gross Gross property and equipment Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment Less accumulated depreciation and amortization Property Plant And Equipment Net Net property and equipment Assets Total assets Liabilities And Stockholders Equity [Abstract] LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Liabilities Current [Abstract] Current liabilities: Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current Current maturities of long-term debt Less current maturities Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities Current Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Total Accrued Income Taxes Current Income taxes Liabilities Current Total current liabilities Liabilities Noncurrent [Abstract] Noncurrent liabilities: Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Long-term debt Total long-term debt Deferred Income Tax Liabilities Deferred income taxes Due To Related Parties Noncurrent Payable to affiliate - income taxes Defined Benefit Pension Plan Liabilities Noncurrent Accrued pension costs Accrued Environmental Loss Contingencies Noncurrent Accrued environmental remediation and related costs Noncurrent liabilities Other Liabilities Noncurrent Other liabilities Total Liabilities Noncurrent Total noncurrent liabilities Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Equity: Common Stock Value Common stock Additional Paid In Capital Additional paid-in capital Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit Retained earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive loss Treasury Stock Value Treasury stock, at cost Stockholders Equity Balance at end of period Balance at beginning of period Total Valhi stockholders' equity Minority Interest Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Balance Balance Total equity Liabilities And Stockholders Equity Total liabilities and equity Commitments And Contingencies Commitments and contingencies (Notes 13 and 16) Income Statement [Abstract] Revenues and other income. Revenues And Other Income [Abstract] Revenues and other income: Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax Net sales Other Income Other income, net Total Revenues and other income net. Revenues And Other Income Net Total revenues and other income Costs And Expenses [Abstract] Cost and expenses: Cost Of Goods And Services Sold Cost of sales Selling General And Administrative Expense Selling, general and administrative Impairment, Long-Lived Asset, Held-for-Use Fixed asset impairment Amount of post retirement benefit plan cost (credit), classified as other. Includes, but not limited to defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Other Components Of Net Periodic Pension And OPEB Expense Credit Other components of net periodic pension and OPEB expense Other components of net periodic pension and OPEB expense Interest Expense Interest expense Interest Costs And Expenses Total costs and expenses Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest Income (loss) before income taxes Income Tax Expense Benefit Income tax expense (benefit) Income tax expense Net income Profit Loss Net income (loss) Net income (loss) Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interest in net income of subsidiaries Net Income Loss Net income (loss) attributable to Valhi stockholders Net Income Loss [Abstract] Amounts attributable to Valhi stockholders: Earnings Per Share, Basic Basic, net income (loss) per share Earnings Per Share, Diluted Diluted, net income (loss) per share Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Weighted average shares outstanding - basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Statement [Table] Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Statement [Line Items] Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease [Abstract] Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax Currency translation Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax Defined benefit pension plans Amount, after tax and reclassification adjustment, of (increase) decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income for other income. Other Comprehensive Income Loss Other After Tax And Reclassification Adjustment Other Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Total other comprehensive income (loss), net Other comprehensive income (loss), net Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Comprehensive income (loss) Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Valhi stockholders Statement Of Stockholders Equity [Abstract] Statement Equity Components [Axis] Equity Components Equity Component [Domain] Equity Component Common Stock [Member] Common stock Additional Paid In Capital [Member] Additional paid-in capital Retained Earnings [Member] Retained earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Accumulated other comprehensive loss Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Treasury Stock [Member] Treasury stock Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Non-controlling interest Dividends Common Stock Cash Cash dividends Minority Interest Decrease From Distributions To Noncontrolling Interest Holders Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest Net increase or decrease included in the statement of changes in stockholders' equity as a result of transactions with noncontrolling interests and other. Equity Transactions With Noncontrolling Interest Net And Other Equity transactions with noncontrolling interest, net and other Common Stock Dividends Per Share Cash Paid Cash dividends per share Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities: Depreciation And Amortization Depreciation and amortization Gain Loss On Sale Of Properties Gain from sale of land Pre-tax gain on sale of land Gain on land sales The non cash termination loss related to defined benefit plan. Non Cash Defined Benefit Plan Termination Loss Settlements Non cash defined benefit plan termination loss Loss on pension plan termination Defined benefit plan net periodic benefit cost greater than or in excess of cash funding during the period. Defined Benefit Plan Net Periodic Benefit Cost Greater Less Than Funding Benefit plan expense greater than cash funding Amount of deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to income (loss) from continuing operations excluding deferred tax expense (benefit) attributable to uncertain tax positions. Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit Excluding Tax Contingencies Deferred income taxes This item represents disclosure of the net amount of dividends or other distributions received from and (contributions to) unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporation; these investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This element excludes distributions that constitute a return of investment, which are classified as investing activities. Equity Method Investment Distributions From Contributions To Net Contributions to TiO2 manufacturing joint venture, net Other Noncash Income Expense Other, net Increase Decrease In Operating Capital [Abstract] Change in assets and liabilities: Increase Decrease In Accounts And Other Receivables Accounts and other receivables, net Increase Decrease In Inventories Inventories, net The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the value of real estate development property (current and noncurrent portions). Increase Decrease In Real Estate Development Property Land held for development, net Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Increase Decrease In Accrued Income Taxes Payable Income taxes Increase Decrease Due From Affiliates Accounts with affiliates Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net Other, net Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from investing activities: Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment Capital expenditures Proceeds From Sale Of Land Heldforinvestment Net proceeds Proceeds from land sales Payments To Acquire Marketable Securities Purchases of marketable securities Proceeds From Sale And Maturity Of Marketable Securities Proceeds from disposal of marketable securities Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities Other, net Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from financing activities: Repayments Of Long Term Debt Principal payments on indebtedness Payments Of Dividends Common Stock Valhi cash dividends paid Payments Of Dividends Minority Interest Distributions to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock Subsidiary treasury stock acquired Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Net cash used in financing activities Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Excluding Exchange Rate Effect [Abstract] Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents - net change from: Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Excluding Exchange Rate Effect Operating, investing and financing activities Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Including Disposal Group And Discontinued Operations Effect of exchange rates on cash Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Including Disposal Group And Discontinued Operations Balance at end of period Balance at beginning of period Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Supplemental disclosures: Cash paid for. Cash Paid For [Abstract] Cash paid for: Interest Paid Net Interest, net of amounts capitalized Income Taxes Paid Net Income taxes, net Noncash investing activities. Noncash Investing Activities [Abstract] Noncash investing activities: Capital Expenditures Incurred But Not Yet Paid Change in accruals for capital expenditures Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract] Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] Organization and Basis of Presentation Segment Reporting [Abstract] Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Business Segment Information Receivables [Abstract] Loans Notes Trade And Other Receivables Disclosure [Text Block] Accounts and Other Receivables, Net Inventory Disclosure [Abstract] Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Inventories, Net Investments Debt And Equity Securities [Abstract] Investments In Debt And Marketable Equity Securities And Certain Trading Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Marketable Securities Deferred Costs Capitalized Prepaid And Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract] Other noncurrent assets text block. Other Noncurrent Assets [Text Block] Other Assets Debt Disclosure [Abstract] Long Term Debt [Text Block] Long-Term Debt Payables And Accruals [Abstract] Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract] Other Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Other Noncurrent Liabilities Revenue From Contract With Customer [Abstract] Revenue From Contract With Customer [Text Block] Revenue - Disaggregation of Sales Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract] Pension And Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block] Defined Benefit Pension Plans Other Income And Expenses [Abstract] Other Income And Other Expense Disclosure [Text Block] Other Income, Net Income taxes Disclosure [Abstract] Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income taxes Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]