Fabricated products shipments containing fixed price terms.

No definition available.

Name:	kalu_FabricatedProductsShipmentsContainingFixedPriceTerms
Namespace Prefix:	kalu_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Firm price customer sales contracts containing price risk on anticipated purchases of primary aluminum.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	kalu_FirmPriceCustomerSalesContractsContainingPriceRiskOnAnticipatedPurchasesOfPrimaryAluminum
Namespace Prefix:	kalu_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The estimated net amount of existing gains or losses on cash flow hedges at the reporting date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next 12 months.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35736893&loc=d3e80748-113994

+ Details

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

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

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

- Definition

Average contractual rate at which a foreign currency can be purchased or sold.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeAverageForwardExchangeRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Nominal or face amount used to calculate payments on the derivative liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1B

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5580258-113959

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Notional Amount

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6519104

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1A

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5579245-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilityNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate fair value amounts of derivative instruments that contain credit-risk-related contingent features that are in a net liability position at the end of the reporting period. For nonderivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, the fair value amounts are the carrying value of the nonderivative hedging instrument, including the adjustment for the foreign currency transaction gain (loss) on that instrument.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4H

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5624258-113959

+ Details

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

- Definition

Period remaining until the derivative contract matures, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeRemainingMaturity1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of net gains or losses on foreign currency cash flow hedges reclassified during the period to earnings from accumulated other comprehensive income upon the hedged transaction affecting earnings.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5624171-113959

+ Details

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

- Definition

The net gain (loss) during the reporting period due to ineffectiveness in foreign currency cash flow hedges. Recognized in earnings.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (d)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5624171-113959

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount before tax, after reclassification adjustments, of increase (decrease) in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 220

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 10A

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=SL7669646-108580

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	kalu_DatePeriodAxis=kalu_RemainderOfCurrentYearMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	kalu_DatePeriodAxis=kalu_YearOneMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis=us-gaap_SwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis=us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=kalu_ForeignCurrencyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PositionAxis=us-gaap_LongMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Derivative Financial Instruments and Related Hedging Programs, Hedging Discussion (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) mmlbs	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) mmlbs	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($) mmlbs	Sep. 30, 2015 EUR (€) mmlbs	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 29, 2010 USD ($)
Derivative [Line Items]
Foreign Currency Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) Reclassified to Earnings, Net	$ 0.0
Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) to be Reclassified within Twelve Months			$ 0.0
Unrealized loss on foreign currency cash flow hedges	0.0	$ 0.0	(0.2)	$ 0.0
Gain (Loss) on Foreign Currency Cash Flow Hedge Ineffectiveness	0.0		0.0
Derivative Financial Instruments and Related Hedging Programs (Textuals) [Abstract]
Aggregate fair value of derivative instruments that contain credit-risk-related contingency features that were in a net liability position	$ 18.5		$ 18.5			$ 11.4
Total fabricated products shipments containing fixed price terms \| mmlbs			148.6	109.3
Remainder of 2015
Derivative Financial Instruments and Related Hedging Programs (Textuals) [Abstract]
Firm price customer sales contracts containing price risk on anticipated purchases of primary aluminum \| mmlbs	52.7		52.7		52.7
2016
Derivative Financial Instruments and Related Hedging Programs (Textuals) [Abstract]
Firm price customer sales contracts containing price risk on anticipated purchases of primary aluminum \| mmlbs	93.8		93.8		93.8
Convertible Debt
Derivative Financial Instruments and Related Hedging Programs (Textuals) [Abstract]
Principal amount of notes							$ 175.0
Swap [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Foreign Currency Member \| Purchase
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Notional Amount \| €					€ 7,315,000
Derivative, Average Forward Exchange Rate	1.14		1.14		1.14
Minimum \| Swap [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Foreign Currency Member \| Purchase
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative, Remaining Maturity			1 month
Maximum \| Swap [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Foreign Currency Member \| Purchase
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative, Remaining Maturity			15 months