Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details 4) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Operating Activities:
Net earnings	$ 243.9	$ 458.1	$ 1,191.4	$ 1,568.1
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Depreciation, depletion and amortization			313.8	318.7
Deferred income taxes			35.8	32.8
Stock compensation expense			9.5	8.8
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation			(11.4)	(30.0)
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivatives			(4.0)	(61.5)
Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment			5.0	4.0
Undistributed loss (earnings) of affiliates - net			(12.9)	(59.0)
Changes in:
Account and notes receivable - net			44.6	(67.8)
Margin deposits				0.8
Inventories-net			(86.3)	3.2
Accrued income taxes			(232.7)	(200.1)
Accounts and notes payable and accrued expenses			69.4	64.0
Customer advances			52.5	360.1
Other - net			54.6	12.2
Net cash provided by operating activities			1,429.3	1,954.3
Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment			(632.9)	(261.4)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment			11.1	11.6
Sales and maturities of short-term and auction rate securities			6.6	31.0
Deposits to restricted cash funds			(111.4)
Deposits to asset retirement funds				(2.2)
Other - net			(4.3)
Net cash used in investing activities			(730.9)	(221.0)
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term borrowings			1,498.0
Payments of long-term debt				(13.0)
Advances from unconsolidated affiliates				40.5
Financing fees			(14.5)
Dividends paid on common stock			(71.9)	(77.4)
Distributions to/from noncontrolling interest			(64.4)	(212.8)
Purchase of treasury stock			(1,111.5)	(500.0)
Acquisitions of noncontrolling interests in CFL			(918.7)
Issuances of common stock under employee stock plans			6.3	12.6
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation			11.4	30.0
Net cash used in financing activities			(665.3)	(720.1)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(21.8)	1.1
Increase in cash and cash equivalents			11.3	1,014.3
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			2,274.9	1,207.0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	2,286.2	2,221.3	2,286.2	2,221.3
Reportable legal entities | Parent
Operating Activities:
Net earnings	234.1	403.3	1,138.8	1,378.0
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Stock compensation expense			9.3	8.0
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation			(11.4)	(30.0)
Undistributed loss (earnings) of affiliates - net			(1,140.3)	(1,379.3)
Due to / from affiliates - net			11.3	480.7
Changes in:
Account and notes receivable - net			(27.3)
Accrued income taxes			(0.8)
Accounts and notes payable and accrued expenses			21.3
Net cash provided by operating activities			0.9	457.4
Financing Activities:
Short-term debt - net			363.0
Dividends paid on common stock			(71.9)	(77.4)
Dividends to / from affiliates			801.9	77.4
Purchase of treasury stock			(1,111.5)	(500.0)
Issuances of common stock under employee stock plans			6.3	12.6
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation			11.4	30.0
Net cash used in financing activities			(0.8)	(457.4)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents			0.1
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	0.1		0.1
Reportable legal entities | CF Industries
Operating Activities:
Net earnings	234.5	403.5	1,140.3	1,379.3
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Depreciation, depletion and amortization			42.7	94.0
Deferred income taxes			(5.5)	20.7
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivatives				(52.3)
Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment				1.3
Undistributed loss (earnings) of affiliates - net			(1,098.3)	(887.9)
Due to / from affiliates - net				(480.4)
Changes in:
Account and notes receivable - net			(77.2)	(35.5)
Margin deposits				0.8
Inventories-net			(7.2)	(14.4)
Accrued income taxes			24.1	(455.7)
Accounts and notes payable and accrued expenses			188.1	662.0
Customer advances				223.6
Other - net			5.2	(8.2)
Net cash provided by operating activities			212.2	447.3
Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment			(48.1)	(149.4)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment				7.5
Sales and maturities of short-term and auction rate securities			6.6	31.0
Deposits to asset retirement funds				(2.2)
Net cash used in investing activities			(41.5)	(113.1)
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term borrowings			1,498.0
Short-term debt - net			(942.3)
Financing fees			(14.5)
Dividends paid on common stock			(801.9)
Dividends to / from affiliates			71.9	(77.4)
Distributions to/from noncontrolling interest			14.3	300.5
Acquisitions of noncontrolling interests in CFL			(364.9)
Net cash used in financing activities			(539.4)	223.1
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents				(14.2)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents			(368.7)	543.1
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			440.8	98.7
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	72.1	641.8	72.1	641.8
Reportable legal entities | Other Subsidiaries
Operating Activities:
Net earnings	264.4	332.7	1,150.8	1,075.9
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Depreciation, depletion and amortization			271.1	224.7
Deferred income taxes			41.3	12.1
Stock compensation expense			0.2	0.8
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivatives			(4.0)	(9.2)
Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment			5.0	2.7
Undistributed loss (earnings) of affiliates - net			(12.9)	(56.9)
Due to / from affiliates - net			(11.3)	(0.3)
Changes in:
Account and notes receivable - net			(92.5)	(634.1)
Inventories-net			(79.1)	17.6
Accrued income taxes			(256.0)	255.6
Accounts and notes payable and accrued expenses			102.0	3.8
Customer advances			52.5	136.5
Other - net			49.1	20.4
Net cash provided by operating activities			1,216.2	1,049.6
Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment			(584.8)	(112.0)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment			11.1	4.1
Deposits to restricted cash funds			(111.4)
Other - net			(4.3)
Net cash used in investing activities			(689.4)	(107.9)
Financing Activities:
Short-term debt - net			579.3
Payments of long-term debt				(13.0)
Advances from unconsolidated affiliates				40.5
Dividends paid on common stock			(71.9)
Distributions to/from noncontrolling interest			(78.7)	(513.3)
Acquisitions of noncontrolling interests in CFL			(553.8)
Net cash used in financing activities			(125.1)	(485.8)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(21.8)	15.3
Increase in cash and cash equivalents			379.9	471.2
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			1,834.1	1,108.3
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	2,214.0	1,579.5	2,214.0	1,579.5
Eliminations
Operating Activities:
Net earnings	(489.1)	(681.4)	(2,238.5)	(2,265.1)
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Undistributed loss (earnings) of affiliates - net			2,238.6	2,265.1
Changes in:
Account and notes receivable - net			241.6	601.8
Accounts and notes payable and accrued expenses			(242.0)	(601.8)
Other - net			0.3
Financing Activities:
Dividends paid on common stock			873.8
Dividends to / from affiliates			$ (873.8)