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Equity Method Investments-Narrative (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Equity method investments      
Investments in and advances to affiliates $ 861.5us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures $ 926.0us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures  
Operating equity method investments      
Equity method investments      
Investments in and advances to affiliates 377.6us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_OperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
379.7us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_OperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
 
Carrying value of investments in excess of the entity's share of the affiliates' book value 287.4us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDifferenceBetweenCarryingAmountAndUnderlyingEquity
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_OperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
   
Operating equity method investments | Point Lisas Nitrogen Limited (PLNL)      
Equity method investments      
Ownership interest (as a percent) 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_OperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= cf_PointLisasNitrogenLimitedMember
   
Obligation to purchase ammonia (description) 50% of the ammonia produced by PLNL    
Obligation to purchase ammonia (percent) 50.00%cf_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationPercent
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_OperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= cf_PointLisasNitrogenLimitedMember
   
Purchases of ammonia from PLNL 141.1us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationPurchases
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_OperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= cf_PointLisasNitrogenLimitedMember
151.0us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationPurchases
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_OperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= cf_PointLisasNitrogenLimitedMember
145.7us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationPurchases
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_OperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= cf_PointLisasNitrogenLimitedMember
Operating equity method investments | Ammonia storage joint venture      
Equity method investments      
Ownership interest (as a percent) 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_OperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= cf_AmmoniaStorageJointVentureMember
   
Operating equity method investments | Maximum | Property, plant and equipment      
Equity method investments      
Number of years that the increased basis for property, plant and equipment and identifiable intangibles will be amortized 19 years    
Operating equity method investments | Maximum | Gas contract      
Equity method investments      
Number of years that the increased basis for property, plant and equipment and identifiable intangibles will be amortized 9 years    
Non-operating equity method investments      
Equity method investments      
Investments in and advances to affiliates 483.9us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_NonoperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
546.3us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_NonoperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
 
Carrying value of investments in excess of the entity's share of the affiliates' book value 311.3us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDifferenceBetweenCarryingAmountAndUnderlyingEquity
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_NonoperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
   
Carrying value of investments 471.5us-gaap_Investments
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_NonoperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
   
Undistributed earnings from equity method investees 12.3us-gaap_RetainedEarningsUndistributedEarningsFromEquityMethodInvestees
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_NonoperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
   
Non-operating equity method investments | KEYTRADE AG      
Equity method investments      
Ownership interest (as a percent) 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_NonoperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= cf_KeytradeAGMember
   
Percentage rate of debt financing of subordinated notes to Keytrade LIBOR    
Percentage on debt instrument in addition to LIBOR Rate 1.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_NonoperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= cf_KeytradeAGMember
   
Amount of outstanding advances 12.4us-gaap_AdvancesToAffiliate
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_NonoperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= cf_KeytradeAGMember
12.4us-gaap_AdvancesToAffiliate
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_NonoperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= cf_KeytradeAGMember
 
Recognized interest income on advances $ 0.2us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesDividendOrInterestCreditedToIncome
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_NonoperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= cf_KeytradeAGMember
$ 0.2us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesDividendOrInterestCreditedToIncome
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_NonoperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= cf_KeytradeAGMember
$ 0.2us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesDividendOrInterestCreditedToIncome
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_NonoperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= cf_KeytradeAGMember
Non-operating equity method investments | GrowHow      
Equity method investments      
Ownership interest (as a percent) 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_NonoperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= cf_GrowHowMember
   
Non-operating equity method investments | Maximum | KEYTRADE AG      
Equity method investments      
Number of years that the increased basis for property, plant and equipment and identifiable intangibles will be amortized 11 years