Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Condensed, Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	$ 1,132.6	$ 1,336.5
Cost of sales	689.8	661.4
Gross margin	442.8	675.1
Selling, general and administrative expenses	41.7	44.3
Other operating - net	(5.8)	14.6
Total other operating costs and expenses	35.9	58.9
Gain on sale of phosphate business	747.1
Equity in earnings of operating affiliates	15.8	11.6
Operating earnings	1,169.8	627.8
Interest expense	40.0	39.1
Interest income	(0.2)	(2.1)
Other non-operating - net	(0.1)	54.7
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of non - operating affiliates	1,130.1	536.1
Income tax provision (benefit)	413.2	107.4
Equity in earnings (losses) of non-operating affiliates-net of taxes	3.5	0.7
Net earnings	720.4	429.4
Less: Net earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interest	11.9	22.9
Net earnings attributable to common stockholders	708.5	406.5
Reportable legal entities | Parent
Condensed, Consolidating Statement of Operations
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0.7	1.0
Total other operating costs and expenses	0.7	1.0
Operating earnings	(0.7)	(1.0)
Net (earnings) of wholly-owned subsidiaries	(709.0)	(407.2)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of non - operating affiliates	708.3	406.2
Income tax provision (benefit)	(0.2)	(0.3)
Net earnings	708.5	406.5
Net earnings attributable to common stockholders	708.5	406.5
Reportable legal entities | CF Industries
Condensed, Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	372.0	334.9
Cost of sales	188.3	222.0
Gross margin	183.7	112.9
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1.4	1.6
Other operating - net	(0.3)	6.1
Total other operating costs and expenses	1.1	7.7
Gain on sale of phosphate business	761.5
Operating earnings	944.1	105.2
Interest expense	49.4	29.4
Interest income	(0.1)	(0.4)
Net (earnings) of wholly-owned subsidiaries	(151.3)	(358.3)
Other non-operating - net	(0.1)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of non - operating affiliates	1,046.2	434.5
Income tax provision (benefit)	337.1	27.3
Equity in earnings (losses) of non-operating affiliates-net of taxes	(0.1)
Net earnings	709.0	407.2
Net earnings attributable to common stockholders	709.0	407.2
Reportable legal entities | Other Subsidiaries
Condensed, Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	1,223.0	1,414.8
Cost of sales	963.9	849.8
Gross margin	259.1	565.0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	39.6	41.7
Other operating - net	(5.5)	8.5
Total other operating costs and expenses	34.1	50.2
Gain on sale of phosphate business	(14.4)
Equity in earnings of operating affiliates	15.8	11.6
Operating earnings	226.4	526.4
Interest expense	(9.3)	10.3
Interest income	(0.2)	(2.3)
Other non-operating - net		54.7
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of non - operating affiliates	235.9	463.7
Income tax provision (benefit)	76.3	80.4
Equity in earnings (losses) of non-operating affiliates-net of taxes	3.6	0.7
Net earnings	163.2	384.0
Less: Net earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interest	11.9	25.7
Net earnings attributable to common stockholders	151.3	358.3
Eliminations
Condensed, Consolidating Statement of Operations
Net sales	(462.4)	(413.2)
Cost of sales	(462.4)	(410.4)
Gross margin		(2.8)
Gain on sale of phosphate business	0
Operating earnings		(2.8)
Interest expense	(0.1)	(0.6)
Interest income	0.1	0.6
Net (earnings) of wholly-owned subsidiaries	860.3	765.5
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of non - operating affiliates	(860.3)	(768.3)
Net earnings	(860.3)	(768.3)
Less: Net earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interest		(2.8)
Net earnings attributable to common stockholders	$ (860.3)	$ (765.5)