CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 302.6	$ (3.0)	$ (171.1)
Depreciation and amortization	59.0	67.5	69.9
Net (gain) loss from:
Securities transactions, net	(0.1)	(0.5)
Disposal of property and equipment, net	0.5	0.3	0.8
Noncash interest expense	2.5	2.6	2.5
Benefit plan expense greater than cash funding	10.5	4.6	2.9
Deferred income taxes	(293.2)	(39.1)	85.7
Loss on prepayment of debt	7.1
Payment for termination of interest rate swap contract	(3.3)
Long-lived asset impairment	170.6
Distributions from (contributions to) TiO2 manufacturing joint venture, net	(6.0)	3.6	6.5
Contract related intangible asset impairment		5.1
Other, net		1.9	7.8
Change in assets and liabilities:
Accounts and other receivables, net	(47.5)	(47.4)	22.2
Land held for development, net	6.6	18.3	7.1
Inventories, net	(5.5)	39.6	(8.4)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	12.9	(0.3)	(14.3)
Income taxes	19.5	3.7	(0.9)
Accounts with affiliates	35.2	13.8	17.1
Other noncurrent assets	(0.9)	0.1	(2.5)
Other noncurrent liabilities	3.7	(3.8)	2.7
Other, net	(14.9)	12.8	(5.9)
Net cash provided by operating activities	259.3	79.8	22.1
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(71.3)	(58.9)	(54.6)
Capitalized permit costs	(2.2)	(1.5)	(1.3)
Purchases of marketable securities	(9.7)	(11.4)	(13.6)
Proceeds from disposal of marketable securities	9.0	10.7	15.0
Other, net	(0.2)	(0.5)	0.4
Net cash used in investing activities	(74.4)	(61.6)	(54.1)
Indebtedness:
Borrowings	748.1	312.2	84.9
Principal payments	(600.2)	(309.0)	(53.4)
Deferred financing costs paid	(9.0)
Valhi cash dividends paid	(27.2)	(27.1)	(27.1)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries	(18.1)	(21.6)	(15.0)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	93.6	(45.5)	(10.6)
Net increase (decrease)	278.5	(27.3)	(42.6)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents – net change from
Operating, investing and financing activities	278.5	(27.3)	(42.6)
Effect of exchange rates on cash	14.4	(5.3)	(8.5)
Net change for the year	292.9	(32.6)	(51.1)
Balance at beginning of year	196.5	229.1	280.2
Balance at end of year	489.4	196.5	229.1
Cash paid for:
Interest, net of amounts capitalized	59.3	60.8	56.6
Income taxes, net	62.3	20.3	10.2
Noncash investing activities:
Changes in accruals for capital expenditures	9.4	$ 8.0	$ 6.7
Noncash financing activities:
Borrowings paid directly to lender to settle refinanced indebtedness	9.3
Principal payments paid directly by lender	(8.4)
Borrowings paid directly to lender for debt issuance costs	$ (0.9)