Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details 4) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Operating Activities:
Net earnings	$ 324.7	$ 518.1	$ 1,045.1	$ 947.5
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization			203.1	213.7
Deferred income taxes			1.1	(44.3)
Stock-based compensation expense			10.0	6.2
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation			(5.2)	(9.6)
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivatives			61.4	6.7
Gain on sale of phosphate business			(747.1)
Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment			1.0	4.2
Undistributed loss (earnings) of affiliates-net			(15.1)	(1.8)
Changes in:
Accounts and notes receivable-net			(12.1)	(55.6)
Inventories-net			64.0	(43.9)
Accrued income taxes			22.6	(188.4)
Accounts and notes payable and accrued expenses			(30.4)	34.8
Customer advances			(57.2)	(313.0)
Other-net			14.1	11.8
Net cash provided by operating activities			555.3	568.3
Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment			(685.0)	(402.5)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment			5.9	7.5
Sales and maturities of short-term and auction rate securities				5.6
Proceeds from sale of phosphate business			1,353.6
Deposits to restricted cash funds			(505.0)	(74.2)
Withdrawals from restricted cash funds			14.0
Other - net			16.8	(2.3)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			200.3	(465.9)
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term borrowings			1,494.2	1,498.0
Financing fees			(16.0)	(13.6)
Dividends paid on common stock			(107.2)	(48.9)
Distributions to/from noncontrolling interest			(23.5)	(45.8)
Purchase of treasury stock			(1,591.2)	(915.6)
Acquisitions of noncontrolling interests in CFL				(918.7)
Issuances of common stock under employee stock plans			9.7	5.2
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation			5.2	9.6
Other - net			(43.0)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(271.8)	(429.8)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(0.5)	(13.4)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			483.3	(340.8)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			1,710.8	2,274.9
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	2,194.1	1,934.1	2,194.1	1,934.1
Reportable legal entities | Parent
Operating Activities:
Net earnings	312.6	498.2	1,021.1	904.7
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Stock-based compensation expense			9.9	6.0
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation			(5.2)	(9.6)
Undistributed loss (earnings) of affiliates-net			(1,022.2)	(905.8)
Due to / from affiliates - net			5.2	9.6
Changes in:
Accounts and notes receivable-net			(0.1)	(18.8)
Accrued income taxes			(0.5)	(0.6)
Accounts and notes payable and accrued expenses			(1.9)	185.4
Net cash provided by operating activities			6.3	170.9
Financing Activities:
Short-term debt-net			1,570.0
Dividends paid on common stock			(107.2)	(48.9)
Purchase of treasury stock			(1,591.2)	(915.6)
Issuances of common stock under employee stock plans			9.7	5.2
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation			5.2	9.6
Dividends to / from affiliates			107.2	778.9
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(6.3)	(170.8)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			0	0.1
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			0.1
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1
Reportable legal entities | CF Industries
Operating Activities:
Net earnings	313.1	498.6	1,022.1	905.8
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization			3.3	29.5
Gain on sale of phosphate business			(761.5)
Undistributed loss (earnings) of affiliates-net			(507.8)	(843.6)
Due to / from affiliates - net			1.8	(0.1)
Changes in:
Accounts and notes receivable-net			(248.8)	(208.9)
Inventories-net			(2.5)	(9.1)
Accrued income taxes			314.3	36.2
Accounts and notes payable and accrued expenses			207.5	245.8
Other-net			(3.3)	1.7
Net cash provided by operating activities			25.1	157.3
Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment			(18.3)	(40.3)
Sales and maturities of short-term and auction rate securities				5.6
Proceeds from sale of phosphate business			893.1
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			874.8	(34.7)
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term borrowings			1,494.2	1,498.0
Short-term debt-net			(2,026.9)	(942.2)
Financing fees			(16.0)	(13.6)
Dividends paid on common stock			(107.2)	(778.9)
Distributions to/from noncontrolling interest				14.3
Acquisitions of noncontrolling interests in CFL				(364.9)
Dividends to / from affiliates			107.2	48.9
Other - net			(1.0)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(549.7)	(538.4)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			350.2	(415.8)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			20.4	440.8
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	370.6	25.0	370.6	25.0
Reportable legal entities | Other Subsidiaries
Operating Activities:
Net earnings	368.7	502.4	531.9	886.4
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization			199.8	184.2
Deferred income taxes			1.1	(44.3)
Stock-based compensation expense			0.1	0.2
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivatives			61.4	6.7
Gain on sale of phosphate business			14.4
Loss (gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment			1.0	4.2
Undistributed loss (earnings) of affiliates-net			(15.1)	(1.8)
Due to / from affiliates - net			(7.0)	(9.5)
Changes in:
Accounts and notes receivable-net			697.2	(511.2)
Inventories-net			66.5	(34.8)
Accrued income taxes			(291.2)	(224.0)
Accounts and notes payable and accrued expenses			(696.4)	287.4
Customer advances			(57.2)	(313.0)
Other-net			17.4	9.6
Net cash provided by operating activities			523.9	240.1
Investing Activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment			(666.7)	(362.2)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment			5.9	7.5
Proceeds from sale of phosphate business			460.5
Deposits to restricted cash funds			(505.0)	(74.2)
Withdrawals from restricted cash funds			14.0
Other - net			16.8	(2.3)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			(674.5)	(431.2)
Financing Activities:
Short-term debt-net			456.9	942.2
Dividends paid on common stock			(107.2)	(48.9)
Distributions to/from noncontrolling interest			(23.5)	(60.1)
Acquisitions of noncontrolling interests in CFL				(553.8)
Other - net			(42.0)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			284.2	279.4
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(0.5)	(13.4)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			133.1	74.9
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			1,690.3	1,834.1
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,823.4	1,909.0	1,823.4	1,909.0
Eliminations
Operating Activities:
Net earnings	(669.7)	(981.1)	(1,530.0)	(1,749.4)
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Undistributed loss (earnings) of affiliates-net			1,530.0	1,749.4
Changes in:
Accounts and notes receivable-net			(460.4)	683.3
Accounts and notes payable and accrued expenses			460.4	(683.8)
Other-net				0.5
Net cash provided by operating activities			0
Financing Activities:
Dividends paid on common stock			214.4	827.8
Dividends to / from affiliates			(214.4)	(827.8)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			$ 0