Comprehensive Income (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Foreign Currency Translation, Net other comprehensive income (loss)	$ (15,444)	$ 26,237
Ownership Share of Equity Method Investee's Other Comprehensive Loss, Net current-period OCI	214	5,509
Defined Benefit Pension and Postretirement Plans, Net current-period OCI	7,241	813
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net, balance at the beginning of the period	(257,850)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net, Net current-period OCI	(7,978)	35,733
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net, balance at the end of the period	(265,321)
Attributable to Flour Corporation:
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Foreign Currency Translation, balance at the beginning of the period	45,899
Foreign Currency Translation, Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(14,938)
Foreign Currency Translation, Net other comprehensive income (loss)	(14,938)
Foreign Currency Translation, balance at the end of the period	30,961
Ownership Share of Equity Method Investees' Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), balance at the beginning of the period	(43,019)
Ownership Share of Equity Method Investees' Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	214
Ownership Share of Equity Method Investee's Other Comprehensive Loss, Net current-period OCI	214
Ownership Share of Equity Method Investees' Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), balance at the end of the period	(42,805)
Defined Benefit Pension and Postretirement Plans, balance at the beginning of the period	(252,724)
Defined Benefit Pension and Postretirement Plans, Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	5,219
Defined Benefit Pension and Postretirement Plans, Amounts reclassified from AOCI	2,022
Defined Benefit Pension and Postretirement Plans, Net current-period OCI	7,241
Defined Benefit Pension and Postretirement Plans, balance at the end of the period	(245,483)
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Contracts, balance at the beginning of the period	(8,960)
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Contracts, Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	85
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Contracts, Amounts reclassified from AOCI	68
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Contracts, Net other comprehensive income (loss)	153
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Contracts, balance at the end of the period	(8,807)
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Available-for-Sale Securities, balance at the beginning of the period	954
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Available-for-Sale Securities, Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(117)
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Available-for-Sale Securities, Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(24)
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Available-for-Sale Securities, Net other comprehensive income (loss)	(141)
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Available-for-Sale Securities, balance at the end of the period	813
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net, balance at the beginning of the period	(257,850)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net, Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(9,537)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net, Amounts reclassified from AOCI	2,066
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net, Net current-period OCI	(7,471)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net, balance at the end of the period	(265,321)
Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest:
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Foreign Currency Translation, balance at the beginning of the period	8,723
Foreign Currency Translation, Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(506)
Foreign Currency Translation, Net other comprehensive income (loss)	(506)
Foreign Currency Translation, balance at the end of the period	8,217
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Contracts, balance at the beginning of the period	1
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Contracts, Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(1)
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Contracts, Net other comprehensive income (loss)	(1)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net, balance at the beginning of the period	8,724
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net, Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(506)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net, Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(1)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net, Net current-period OCI	(507)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net, balance at the end of the period	$ 8,217