CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenues and other income:
Net sales	$ 1,879.4	$ 1,519.4	$ 1,487.9
Other income, net	25.2	39.0	31.9
Total revenues and other income	1,904.6	1,558.4	1,519.8
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	1,277.4	1,219.2	1,259.5
Selling, general and administrative	269.4	236.4	248.6
Contract related intangible asset impairment		5.1
Loss on prepayment of debt	7.1
Interest	58.9	58.1	53.6
Total costs and expenses	1,612.8	1,518.8	1,561.7
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	291.8	39.6	(41.9)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(120.0)	18.6	107.5
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	411.8	21.0	(149.4)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(109.2)	(24.0)	(21.7)
Net income (loss)	302.6	(3.0)	(171.1)
Noncontrolling interest in net income (loss) of subsidiaries	95.1	12.9	(37.5)
Net income (loss) attributable to Valhi stockholders	207.5	(15.9)	(133.6)
Amounts attributable to Valhi stockholders:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	316.7	8.1	(111.9)
Loss from discontinued operations	(109.2)	(24.0)	(21.7)
Net income (loss) attributable to Valhi stockholders	$ 207.5	$ (15.9)	$ (133.6)
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 0.93	$ 0.02	$ (0.33)
Loss from discontinued operations	(0.32)	(0.07)	(0.06)
Net income (loss) per share	0.61	(0.05)	(0.39)
Cash dividends per share	$ 0.08	$ 0.08	$ 0.08
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding	342.0	342.0	342.0