Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Dividends received from Kronos Worldwide, Inc.				$ 25,356	$ 25,356	$ 25,356
Gross unrecognized tax benefits		$ 7,300		7,300	7,300	7,300
Uncertain tax position				1,724	1,717
Unrecognized tax benefits, if recognize which would affect effective tax rate				7,300
Currently payable						200
Income tax expense (benefit)				(7,479)	2,515	(579)
Current payable to affiliate				691	725
Valhi | Income Tax Payable
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Payable to affiliate				50,600
Federal Income Tax Purposes
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards				$ 26,600
Annual usage limitation				80.00%
Net operating loss carryforwards expiration description				an indefinite carryforward period subject to an 80% annual usage limitation
Kronos
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Dividends received from Kronos Worldwide, Inc.				$ 25,400	$ 25,400	$ 25,400
Kronos | CARES Act
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Cash tax benefit due to reversal of valuation allowance	$ 500
Percentage of adjusted taxable income					50.00%	30.00%
Interest expense and an increase in the valuation allowance				2,800
Kronos | Germany
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Income tax benefit		3,000
Current cash tax benefit		1,500
Non-cash deferred income tax benefit		1,500
Deferred income tax expense resulting from decrease in trade tax rate		$ 5,500
Kronos | Deferred Tax Liability Non Current
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Uncertain tax position				5,600
Kronos | Corporate Tax Purposes | German
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards				451,000
Kronos | Corporate Tax Purposes | Belgium
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards				$ 19,000
Kronos European Subsidiaries | Transition Tax
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Currently payable			$ 74,500
Current income tax expense payment period			8 years
Kronos European Subsidiaries | Valhi
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Income tax liability payable period				8 years
Kronos European Subsidiaries | Valhi | Income Tax Payable
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Payable to affiliate				$ 50,600
Noncurrent payable to affiliate				44,700
Current payable to affiliate				$ 5,900