Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 2,286.2	$ 2,274.9	$ 2,221.3	$ 1,207.0
Restricted cash	111.4
Accounts and notes receivable - net	186.9	217.4
Inventories - net	357.4	277.9
Prepaid income taxes	35.8
Deferred income taxes	44.1	9.5
Other	37.9	27.9
Total current assets	3,059.7	2,807.6
Property, plant and equipment - net	4,250.0	3,900.5
Asset retirement obligation funds	200.8	200.8
Investments in and advances to affiliates	931.8	935.6
Goodwill	2,064.5	2,064.5
Other assets	292.2	257.9
Total assets	10,799.0	10,166.9
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and notes payable and accrued expenses	466.9	366.5
Income taxes payable	3.6	187.1
Customer advances	433.3	380.7
Notes payable		5.0
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interest		5.3		149.7
Other	9.1	5.6
Total current liabilities	912.9	950.2
Long-term debt	3,098.0	1,600.0
Deferred income taxes	870.1	938.8
Other noncurrent liabilities	456.0	395.7
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	0.6	0.6
Paid-in capital	1,659.0	2,492.4
Retained earnings	3,880.6	3,461.1
Treasury stock	(361.7)	(2.3)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(72.6)	(49.6)	(37.9)	(99.3)
Total stockholders' equity	5,105.9	5,902.2
Noncontrolling interest	356.1	380.0	520.8	385.9
Total equity	5,462.0	6,282.2	5,978.1	4,932.9
Total liabilities and equity	10,799.0	10,166.9
Reportable legal entities | Parent
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0.1
Accounts and notes receivable - net	24.1
Prepaid income taxes	0.8
Total current assets	25.0
Investments in and advances to affiliates	4,894.5	5,331.5
Due from affiliates	570.7	570.7
Total assets	5,490.2	5,902.2
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and notes payable and accrued expenses	384.4
Total current liabilities	384.4
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock	0.6	0.6
Paid-in capital	1,659.0	2,492.3
Retained earnings	3,880.5	3,461.2
Treasury stock	(361.7)	(2.3)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(72.6)	(49.6)
Total stockholders' equity	5,105.8	5,902.2
Total equity	5,105.8	5,902.2
Total liabilities and equity	5,490.2	5,902.2
Reportable legal entities | CF Industries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	72.1	440.8	641.8	98.7
Accounts and notes receivable - net	153.1	145.1
Income taxes receivable		642.1
Inventories - net	66.6	193.1
Deferred income taxes	128.6	9.5
Other	0.7	15.4
Total current assets	421.1	1,446.0
Property, plant and equipment - net	452.0	1,008.1
Deferred income taxes		50.7
Asset retirement obligation funds	200.8	200.8
Investments in and advances to affiliates	7,851.0	6,291.4
Goodwill	0.9	0.9
Other assets	75.7	136.5
Total assets	9,001.5	9,134.4
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and notes payable and accrued expenses	258.2	222.6
Income taxes payable	29.6
Customer advances		247.9
Notes payable		900.0
Other		4.5
Total current liabilities	287.8	1,375.0
Long-term debt	3,098.0	1,600.0
Due to affiliates	572.5	572.5
Other noncurrent liabilities	148.7	255.4
Stockholders' equity:
Paid-in capital	(12.8)	739.8
Retained earnings	4,979.9	4,641.3
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(72.6)	(49.6)
Total stockholders' equity	4,894.5	5,331.5
Total equity	4,894.5	5,331.5
Total liabilities and equity	9,001.5	9,134.4
Reportable legal entities | Other Subsidiaries
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	2,214.0	1,834.1	1,579.5	1,108.3
Restricted cash	111.4
Accounts and notes receivable - net	689.4	1,007.9
Inventories - net	290.8	84.8
Prepaid income taxes	61.0
Deferred income taxes	44.1
Other	37.2	12.5
Total current assets	3,447.9	2,939.3
Property, plant and equipment - net	3,798.0	2,892.4
Investments in and advances to affiliates	931.6	935.2
Due from affiliates	1.7	1.8
Goodwill	2,063.6	2,063.6
Other assets	216.5	121.4
Total assets	10,459.3	8,953.7
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and notes payable and accrued expenses	504.0	159.3
Income taxes payable		829.2
Customer advances	433.3	132.8
Notes payable		14.6
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interest		15.7
Other	9.1	1.1
Total current liabilities	946.4	1,152.7
Deferred income taxes	998.7	989.5
Other noncurrent liabilities	307.3	140.3
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock	16.4	65.3
Common stock	1.1	154.3
Paid-in capital	7,823.0	4,493.6
Retained earnings	82.9	1,598.3
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(72.6)	(2.9)
Total stockholders' equity	7,850.8	6,308.6
Noncontrolling interest	356.1	362.6
Total equity	8,206.9	6,671.2
Total liabilities and equity	10,459.3	8,953.7
Eliminations
Current assets:
Accounts and notes receivable - net	(679.7)	(935.6)
Income taxes receivable		(642.1)
Prepaid income taxes	(26.0)
Deferred income taxes	(128.6)
Total current assets	(834.3)	(1,577.7)
Deferred income taxes		(50.7)
Investments in and advances to affiliates	(12,745.3)	(11,622.5)
Due from affiliates	(572.4)	(572.5)
Total assets	(14,152.0)	(13,823.4)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and notes payable and accrued expenses	(679.7)	(15.4)
Income taxes payable	(26.0)	(642.1)
Notes payable		(909.6)
Distributions payable to noncontrolling interest		(10.4)
Total current liabilities	(705.7)	(1,577.5)
Deferred income taxes	(128.6)	(50.7)
Due to affiliates	(572.5)	(572.5)
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock	(16.4)	(65.3)
Common stock	(1.1)	(154.3)
Paid-in capital	(7,810.2)	(5,233.3)
Retained earnings	(5,062.7)	(6,239.7)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	145.2	52.5
Total stockholders' equity	(12,745.2)	(11,640.1)
Noncontrolling interest		17.4
Total equity	(12,745.2)	(11,622.7)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (14,152.0)	$ (13,823.4)