Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Assets [Abstract] Total assets Assets Current assets: Assets, Current [Abstract] Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents Restricted cash Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current Inventory Net Total inventories Supplies Prepaid Items And Other [Abstract] Supplies, prepaid items and other: Prepaid insurance Prepaid Insurance Supplies Supplies Assets, Current, Total Total current assets Property Plant And Equipment Net Property, plant and equipment, net Other Assets, Noncurrent [Abstract] Other assets: Equity Method Investments Investment in affiliate Goodwill Goodwill Total assets Assets Total assets Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Current liabilities: Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current Liabilities, Current, Total Total current liabilities Deferred Tax Liabilities, Noncurrent Deferred income taxes Stockholders Equity [Abstract] Stockholders' equity: Preferred Stock, Value, Issued Convertible preferred stock Series B cumulative, convertible preferred stock, par value Series B cumulative, convertible preferred stock, par value Preferred stock, shares issued Preferred stock, shares issued Preferred stock, shares outstanding Preferred stock, shares outstanding Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock, $.10 par value; 75,000,000 shares authorized, 26,679,530 shares issued (26,638,285 at December 31, 2011) Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common Stock, Shares Issued Common stock, shares issued Capital in excess of par value Additional Paid in Capital Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Retained earnings Less Treasury Stock At Cost [Abstract] Less treasury stock at cost: Treasury Stock, Value Common stock, 4,320,462 shares Treasury securities, common shares Treasury stock, common shares Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Total Ending balance Beginning balance Total stockholders' equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Total Liabilities and Stockholders' equity Selling, General and Administrative Expense Total selling, general and administrative Selling, general and administrative expense Other Operating Income Other income Total other income Other income Operating Income (Loss) Total general corporate expenses and other business operations, net Operating income Operating income Interest Expense Interest expense Interest expense Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Non-operating other expense (income), net Non-operating other income (expense), net Total non-operating other income (expense), net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest Income from continuing operations before provisions for income taxes and equity in earnings and losses of affiliate Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Provisions for income taxes Provisions for income taxes Provisions for income taxes Equity in losses (earnings) of affiliate Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliate-Climate Control Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent Income from continuing operations Income from continuing operations Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Net loss from discontinued operations Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net income Net income Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic Net income applicable to common stock Numerator for basic net income per common share - net income applicable to common stock Income Per Common Share [Abstract] Income per common share: Earnings Per Share, Basic Basic Basic net income per common share Earnings Per Share, Diluted Diluted Diluted net income per common share Shares, Issued Ending balance, shares Beginning balance, shares Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash Dividends paid on preferred stocks Stock-based compensation Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition, Value Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Stock Options Exercised Exercise of stock options, shares Exercise of stock options Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Tax Effect from Share-based Compensation Excess income tax benefit associated with stock-based compensation Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by continuing operating activities: Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Total Deferred Deferred income taxes Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment Losses on sales and disposals of property and equipment Depreciation Depreciation of property, plant and equipment Amortization Amortization Share-based Compensation Stock-based compensation Inventory Write-down Provisions for losses on inventory Distributions received from affiliate Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Commodity Contracts Changes in fair value of commodities contracts Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Changes in fair value of interest rate contracts Cash provided (used) by changes in assets and liabilities (net of effects of discontinued operations): Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Inventories Accounts payable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Customer deposits Increase (Decrease) in Customer Deposits Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Liabilities Other current and noncurrent liabilities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations Net cash provided by continuing operating activities Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Capital expenditures Proceeds from sales of property and equipment Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment Proceeds from short-term investments Proceeds from Sale of Short-term Investments Payments to Acquire Short-term Investments Purchase of short-term investments Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities Other assets Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations Net cash used by continuing investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Cash flows from continuing financing activities Repayments of Lines of Credit Payments on revolving debt facility Repayments of Other Long-term Debt Payments on other long-term debt Payments of Debt Issuance Costs Payments of debt issuance costs Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised Proceeds from exercise of stock options Excess income tax benefit associated with stock-based compensation Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Financing Activities Payments of Dividends, Preferred Stock and Preference Stock Dividends paid on preferred stocks Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations Net cash provided (used) by continuing financing activities Cash flows of discontinued operations: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Discontinued Operations [Abstract] Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Discontinued Operations Operating cash flows Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Net increase in cash and cash equivalents Supplemental cash flow information: Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Income Taxes Paid, Net Cash payments for income taxes, net of refunds Noncash investing and financing activities: Cash Flow, Noncash Investing and Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Inventories Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Accrued Warranty Costs Product Warranty Disclosure [Text Block] Accrued Warranty Costs [Abstract] Long-Term Debt Long-term Debt [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Other Expense, Other Income and Non-Operating Other Income (Expense), net Other Income and Other Expense Disclosure [Text Block] Segment Information Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Related Party Transactions Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block] Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Period End Date Document Type Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Filer Category Entity Registrant Name Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income [Abstract] Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Statement [Line Items] Class of Stock [Axis] Class of Stock [Domain] Series D Preferred Stock [Member] Series D preferred stock [Member] Series D preferred stock Series B Preferred Stock [Member] Series B preferred stock [Member] Series B preferred stock Non-Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member] Non-Redeemable Preferred Stock Short-term Borrowings Short-term financing Provision for Doubtful Accounts Provisions for losses on accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Other supplies, prepaid items and other Other Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Current and Noncurrent Accrued and Other Liabilities Capital Expenditures Incurred but Not yet Paid Other assets and accounts payable associated with property, plant and equipment Stockholders equity including treasury stock Stockholders equity including treasury stock Total of all Stockholders' Equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which are attributable to the parent and includes treasury stock. The amount of the economic entity's stockholders' equity attributable to the parent excludes the amount of stockholders' equity which is allocable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (non-controlling interest, minority interest). This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity. Current portion of accrued and other liabilities Other Liabilities Current Current portion of accrued and other liabilities Accrued and other liabilities Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Debt instrument, interest rate Interest rate on convertible debentures Other Short-term Investments Short-term investments Precious Metals Precious metals Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of precious metals used as a catalyst in the chemical manufacturing process to be consumed or sold within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current Deferred income taxes Sales Revenue, Net Net sales Other Cost and Expense, Operating Other expense Total other expense Other expense Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Income Taxes Payable Accrued and prepaid income taxes Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Noncurrent accrued and other liabilities Less noncurrent portion Commitments and contingencies (Note 8) Dividends Preferred Stock Dividends on preferred stocks Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation, Business Description and Accounting Policies [Text Block] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Loans, Notes, Trade and Other Receivables Disclosure [Text Block] Accounts Receivable, net Current and Noncurrent Accrued and Other Liabilities [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Other Expense, Other Income and Non-Operating Other Income (Expense), net [Abstract] Segment Information [Abstract] Accounts Receivable, net [Abstract] Related Party Transactions [Abstract] Statement [Table] Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from continuing investing activities Debt Issuance Costs Associated With Convertible Debentures Debt issuance costs written off associated with 5.5% debentures The amount of debt issuance costs written off during a noncash or partial noncash transaction. Preferred Stock, No Par Value Series D cumulative, convertible Class C preferred stock, par value Derivative, Fair Value Of Derivative And Other Fair value of derivatives and other The fair value as of the balance sheet date of firm holdings in assets resulting from contracts that meet the criteria of being accounted for as derivative instruments and/or other assets measured at fair value. These assets are expected to be settled or realized within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Derivatives, Hedges, Financial Instruments and Carbon Credits Cost of Revenue Cost of sales Other Prepaid Expense, Current Other Other Assets, Noncurrent, Total Other, net Preferred Stock, Dividend Rate, Percentage Convertible preferred stock dividend rate Stock Issued During Period, Value, Conversion of Convertible Securities Conversion of redeemable preferred stock to common stock Conversion of redeemable preferred stock to common stock, shares Shares of LSB common stock issued Proceeds from Lines of Credit Proceeds from revolving debt facility Repayments of Short-term Debt Payments on short-term financing Common Stock [Member] Common Stock Shares Additional Paid In Capital [Member] Capital in Excess of Par Value Retained Earnings [Member] Retained Earnings Common stock, shares authorized Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block] Basis of Consolidation and Presentation Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block] Use of Estimates Trade and Other Accounts Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block] Accounts Receivable Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block] Inventories Standard Product Warranty, Policy [Policy Text Block] Product Warranty Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block] Income Taxes Commitments and Contingencies, Policy [Policy Text Block] Contingencies Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block] Income per Common Share Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements [Policy Text Block] Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Disclosure of accounting policy for new accounting pronouncements and that describes the new principles and effects on financial statements. Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Climate Control [Member] Goodwill of Climate Control. Climate Control [Member] Chemical [Member] Goodwill of Chemical. Chemical [Member] Statement, Business Segments [Axis] Segment [Domain] Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Non-operating other income (expense), net: Accounts Receivable, Net, Current [Abstract] Net Accounts Receivables Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current Allowance for doubtful accounts Accounts Receivable, Gross, Current Trade receivables Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Accounts receivable, net Accounts receivable, net Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract] Type of Inventory [Table] Inventories.