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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Textuals, Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment      
Interest expense capitalized as construction in progress $ 2.5us-gaap_InterestCostsIncurredCapitalized $ 3.4us-gaap_InterestCostsIncurredCapitalized $ 1.7us-gaap_InterestCostsIncurredCapitalized
Depreciation expense 29.5us-gaap_Depreciation 26.4us-gaap_Depreciation 24.7us-gaap_Depreciation
Asset impairment charge 1.5us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges 0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges 4.4us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Fabricated Products      
Property, Plant and Equipment      
Depreciation expense 29.0us-gaap_Depreciation
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= kalu_FabricatedProductsMember
25.8us-gaap_Depreciation
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= kalu_FabricatedProductsMember
24.2us-gaap_Depreciation
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= kalu_FabricatedProductsMember
Asset impairment charge 1.5us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= kalu_FabricatedProductsMember
  4.4us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= kalu_FabricatedProductsMember
Fabricated Products | Idled equipment      
Property, Plant and Equipment      
Asset impairment charge   $ 0us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= kalu_IdledAssetMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= kalu_FabricatedProductsMember
 
Minimum | Land improvements      
Property, Plant and Equipment      
Property, plant and equipment useful lives (in years) 3 years    
Minimum | Buildings and leasehold improvements      
Property, Plant and Equipment      
Property, plant and equipment useful lives (in years) 15 years    
Minimum | Machinery and equipment      
Property, Plant and Equipment      
Property, plant and equipment useful lives (in years) 1 year    
Minimum | Capital lease assets      
Property, Plant and Equipment      
Property, plant and equipment useful lives (in years) 3 years    
Maximum | Land improvements      
Property, Plant and Equipment      
Property, plant and equipment useful lives (in years) 25 years    
Maximum | Buildings and leasehold improvements      
Property, Plant and Equipment      
Property, plant and equipment useful lives (in years) 45 years    
Maximum | Machinery and equipment      
Property, Plant and Equipment      
Property, plant and equipment useful lives (in years) 24 years    
Maximum | Capital lease assets      
Property, Plant and Equipment      
Property, plant and equipment useful lives (in years) 5 years