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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Textuals (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Accounting policies additional disclosures      
Advertising costs $ 0.6us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense $ 1.3us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense $ 0.4us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense
Research and development costs 8.9us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense 7.8us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense 6.4us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
Excess of current cost over the stated LIFO value of inventory 37.6us-gaap_InventoryLIFOReserve 0.4us-gaap_InventoryLIFOReserve  
Impairment of the carrying value of goodwill 0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss 0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss  
Discount rate used in estimating liabilities for worker compensation claims 1.75%us-gaap_WorkersCompensationDiscountPercent 1.75%us-gaap_WorkersCompensationDiscountPercent  
Undiscounted workers' compensation liabilities 25.9kalu_Workerscompensationliabilityundiscounted 29.1kalu_Workerscompensationliabilityundiscounted  
Margin deposits with counterparties 0us-gaap_MarginDepositAssets 0us-gaap_MarginDepositAssets  
Margin deposits from counterparties $ 0kalu_MarginDepositsFromCounterparties $ 0kalu_MarginDepositsFromCounterparties  
Percentage of Employees Covered by Collective Bargaining Agreements 63.00%kalu_PercentageofEmployeesCoveredbyCollectiveBargainingAgreements    
Percentage of Employees Covered by Collective Bargaining Agreements Expiring Within One Year 47.00%kalu_PercentageofEmployeesCoveredbyCollectiveBargainingAgreementsExpiringWithinOneYear    
Percentage of Employees Covered by Collective Bargaining Agreements Extended Beyond One Year 36.00%kalu_PercentageofEmployeesCoveredbyCollectiveBargainingAgreementsExtendedBeyondOneYear    
Minimum      
Accounting policies additional disclosures      
Period over which accounts receivable is due, days 30 days    
Number of days in maturity for debt investment securities to be classified as short-term investments 90 days    
Maximum      
Accounting policies additional disclosures      
Number of days to maturity for debt investment securities to be classified as cash and cash equivalents 90 days    
Period over which accounts receivable is due, days 60 days