Related Party Transactions - Current Payables to Affiliates (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current payables to affiliates:
Payable to affiliates	$ 1,717	$ 220
Other - Trade Items
Current payables to affiliates:
Payable to affiliates	211	180
Valhi \| Income Taxes
Current payables to affiliates:
Payable to affiliates	$ 1,506	$ 40

Amount of payable due to an entity that is affiliated with the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-04(12)(b)(3))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488278&loc=d3e603758-122996

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(19)(a)(5))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08(k))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

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