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Equity Method Investments-Narrative (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Equity method investments      
Investments in and advances to affiliates $ 853.5us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures   $ 861.5us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures
Operating equity method investments      
Equity method investments      
Investments in and advances to affiliates 376.3us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_OperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
  377.6us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_OperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
Carrying value of investments in excess of the entity's share of the affiliates' book value 285.6us-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 (as a percent) 50% of the ammonia produced by PLNL    
Unrecorded unconditional purchase obligation, percent 50.00%cf_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationPercent
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_OperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= cf_PointLisasNitrogenLimitedMember
   
Purchases of ammonia from PLNL 29.6us-gaap_UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationPurchases
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_OperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= cf_PointLisasNitrogenLimitedMember
34.0us-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 477.2us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_NonoperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
  483.9us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_NonoperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
Carrying value of investments in excess of the entity's share of the affiliates' book value 293.5us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDifferenceBetweenCarryingAmountAndUnderlyingEquity
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_NonoperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
   
Carrying value of investments 464.8us-gaap_Investments
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_NonoperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
   
Undistributed earnings from equity method investees 22.5us-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 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 $ 0.1us-gaap_InvestmentsInAndAdvancesToAffiliatesDividendOrInterestCreditedToIncome
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= cf_NonoperatingEquityMethodInvestmentMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= cf_KeytradeAGMember
$ 0.1us-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