Marketable Securities - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands, shares in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Recognized securities transactions loss related to aggregate net change in market value	$ (1,581)
Valhi Inc \| Common stock
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Number of shares owned	14.4	14.4
Quoted marked price per share	$ 6.06	$ 6.17
Recognized securities transactions loss related to aggregate net change in market value	$ 1,600

This item represents the net total realized and unrealized gain (loss) included in earnings for the period as a result of selling or holding marketable securities categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity, including the unrealized holding gain (loss) of held-to-maturity securities transferred to the trading security category and the cumulative unrealized gain (loss) which was included in other comprehensive income (a separate component of shareholders' equity) for available-for-sale securities transferred to trading securities during the period. Additionally, this item would include any losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments in debt and equity securities.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (a),(c)-(e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82897076&loc=d3e27357-111563

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7(c))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82897076&loc=d3e27405-111563

Name:	us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesGainLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration