Summary of significant accounting policies - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) a	Jun. 30, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) a	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Capitalized interest costs on property and equipment			$ 1,900,000	$ 1,700,000	$ 1,400,000
Fixed asset impairment	$ 3,800,000	$ 16,400,000	$ 3,800,000
Percentage of likelihood for recognition of uncertain tax positions			50.00%
Recognition of receivables for recoveries	$ 0		$ 0	0
Standard payment terms			less than one year
Shipping and handling costs			$ 1,676,500,000	1,732,100,000	1,716,200,000
Advertising costs			2,000,000	2,000,000	1,000,000
Research, development and certain sales technical support costs			$ 18,000,000	16,000,000	17,000,000
Louisiana Pigment Company
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage owned manufacturing joint venture under equity method investment	50.00%		50.00%
Revision of Prior Period, Reclassification, Adjustment
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Period Increase (Decrease)			$ 19,100,000
Revision of Prior Period, Reclassification, Adjustment | Land
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Period Increase (Decrease)			(5,300,000)
Revision of Prior Period, Reclassification, Adjustment | Equipment
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Period Increase (Decrease)			(45,800,000)
Revision of Prior Period, Reclassification, Adjustment | Building
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Period Increase (Decrease)			5,100,000
Revision of Prior Period, Reclassification, Adjustment | Mining properties
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Period Increase (Decrease)			65,100,000
Chemicals
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Shipping and handling costs			$ 1,502,700,000	1,540,200,000	1,494,500,000
Chemicals | Louisiana Pigment Company
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage owned manufacturing joint venture under equity method investment	50.00%		50.00%
Shipping and Handling | Chemicals
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Shipping and handling costs			$ 101,000,000	122,000,000	132,000,000
Residential/Planned Community
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Area of real estate property | a	2,100		2,100
Residential Housing Unit | Minimum
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of sales price			2.50%
Residential Housing Unit | Maximum
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of sales price			3.50%
Contran
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Net cash payments received from/paid to tax group parent			$ 14,200,000	$ 17,500,000	$ 25,500,000
Contran | Valhi Incorporation
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Parent company ownership interest	91.00%		91.00%