Annual and transition report of foreign private issuers pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Company's Financial Assets and Liabilities that were Accounted for at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Company's Financial Assets and Liabilities that were Accounted for at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Assets    
Interest rate swap contracts included in Accounts Payable $ 3.1jhx_InterestRateSwapFairValueDisclosure $ 0.5jhx_InterestRateSwapFairValueDisclosure
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring [Member]    
Assets    
Cash and cash equivalents 67.0us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
 
Restricted cash and cash equivalents 27.0jhx_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
 
Total Assets 94.0us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
 
Interest rate swap contracts included in Accounts Payable 3.1jhx_InterestRateSwapFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
 
Total Liabilities 3.3us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
 
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Forward contracts [Member]    
Assets    
Forward contracts included in Other Liabilities 0.2us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
 
Level 1 [Member] | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring [Member]    
Assets    
Cash and cash equivalents 67.0us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
 
Restricted cash and cash equivalents 27.0jhx_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
 
Total Assets 94.0us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
 
Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring [Member]    
Assets    
Interest rate swap contracts included in Accounts Payable 3.1jhx_InterestRateSwapFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
 
Total Liabilities 3.3us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
 
Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Forward contracts [Member]    
Assets    
Forward contracts included in Other Liabilities $ 0.2us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
/ us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember