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Business and Geographic Segments - Holding Percentage of Subsidiaries (Detail)
Dec. 31, 2014
Chemicals | Kronos Worldwide, Inc.  
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]  
Controlling interest in subsidiary 80.00%vhi_MinorityInterestControllingPercentageInSubsidiaryByParent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= vhi_KronosMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_ChemicalsMember
Component Products | CompX  
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]  
Controlling interest in subsidiary 87.00%vhi_MinorityInterestControllingPercentageInSubsidiaryByParent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= vhi_CompXMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_ComponentProductsMember
Waste Management | WCS  
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]  
Controlling interest in subsidiary 100.00%vhi_MinorityInterestControllingPercentageInSubsidiaryByParent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= vhi_WcsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_WasteManagementMember
Real Estate Management And Development | BMI  
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]  
Controlling interest in subsidiary 63.00%vhi_MinorityInterestControllingPercentageInSubsidiaryByParent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= vhi_BasicManagementMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_RealEstateManagementAndDevelopmentMember
Real Estate Management And Development | LandWell | Aggregate General And Limited Interests  
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]  
Controlling interest in subsidiary 77.00%vhi_MinorityInterestControllingPercentageInSubsidiaryByParent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= vhi_LandwellMember
/ us-gaap_PartnerTypeOfPartnersCapitalAccountAxis
= vhi_AggregateGeneralAndLimitedInterestsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= vhi_RealEstateManagementAndDevelopmentMember