Commitments and contingencies - Changes in Accrued Environmental Remediation and Related Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2025	Dec. 31, 2024
Environmental Remediation Obligations [Abstract]
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 74.6
Additions charged to expense, net	1.0
Payments, net	(57.4)
Balance at the end of the period	18.2
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at the end of the year:
Current liabilities	3.5	$ 59.7
Noncurrent liabilities	14.7	14.9
Total	$ 18.2	$ 74.6

Total costs accrued as of the balance sheet date for environmental loss contingencies.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483076/450-20-50-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/recommendedDisclosureRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (d)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481931/410-30-50-10

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/recommendedDisclosureRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (d)(3)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481931/410-30-50-10

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 16
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481899/410-30-55-16

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.Y.Q1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480102/450-20-S99-1

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481931/410-30-50-7

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of cash outflow to settle environmental loss contingencies.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.Y.Q1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480102/450-20-S99-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 17
-Subparagraph (f)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482740/230-10-45-17

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesPayments1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying value of the obligation (known or estimated) arising from requirements to perform activities to remediate one or more sites, payable in twelve months or in the next operating cycle if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(20))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483076/450-20-50-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 11
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481899/410-30-55-11

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481931/410-30-50-7

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (d)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481931/410-30-50-10

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying value of the obligation (known or estimated) arising from requirements to perform activities to remediate one or more sites, payable after twelve months or beyond the next operating cycle if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(24))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483076/450-20-50-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481931/410-30-50-7

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (d)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481931/410-30-50-10

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EnvironmentalRemediationObligationsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount added to the accrual and charged to expense for newly incurred environmental loss contingencies and revisions to existing environmental loss contingencies. These additions include remediation expense and interest accretion. These additions do not relate to changes in the environmental accrual related to a business acquisition or divestiture, to currency movements, or revisions in previously existing estimates not charged to expense.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vhi_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingenciesProvisionForNewLossesAndIncreasesForRevisionInEstimatesChargedToExpense
Namespace Prefix:	vhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Accrued environmental loss contingencies.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vhi_AccruedEnvironmentalLossContingenciesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	vhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration