Loans Receivable (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of originated loans receivable
Originated loans receivable, net	$ 961,892	$ 874,485
Allowance for loan losses	(17,357)	(19,125)
Originated Loans Receivable [Member]
Schedule of originated loans receivable
Gross originated loans receivable	964,407	876,581
Net deferred loan fees	(2,515)	(2,096)
Originated loans receivable, net	961,892	874,485
Allowance for loan losses	(17,357)	(19,125)
Originated loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses	944,535	855,360
Originated Loans Receivable [Member] \| Commercial business [Member]
Schedule of originated loans receivable
Gross originated loans receivable	837,718	731,569
Originated Loans Receivable [Member] \| Real estate construction and land development [Member]
Schedule of originated loans receivable
Gross originated loans receivable	58,758	77,250
Originated Loans Receivable [Member] \| Consumer [Member]
Schedule of originated loans receivable
Gross originated loans receivable	28,029	28,914
Commercial and industrial [Member] \| Originated Loans Receivable [Member] \| Commercial business [Member]
Schedule of originated loans receivable
Gross originated loans receivable	292,906	277,240
Owner-occupied commercial real estate [Member] \| Originated Loans Receivable [Member] \| Commercial business [Member]
Schedule of originated loans receivable
Gross originated loans receivable	197,421	188,494
Non-owner occupied commercial real estate [Member] \| Originated Loans Receivable [Member] \| Commercial business [Member]
Schedule of originated loans receivable
Gross originated loans receivable	347,391	265,835
One-to-four family residential [Member] \| Originated Loans Receivable [Member]
Schedule of originated loans receivable
Gross originated loans receivable	39,902	38,848
One-to-four family residential [Member] \| Originated Loans Receivable [Member] \| Real estate construction and land development [Member]
Schedule of originated loans receivable
Gross originated loans receivable	20,054	25,175
Five or more family residential and commercial properties [Member] \| Originated Loans Receivable [Member] \| Real estate construction and land development [Member]
Schedule of originated loans receivable
Gross originated loans receivable	$ 38,704	$ 52,075

Originated loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses, excludes purchased loans.

No definition available.

Name:	hfwa_OriginatedLoansReceivableNetOfAllowanceForLoanLosses
Namespace Prefix:	hfwa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of allowance to cover probable credit losses on loans and leases. Includes carryover of or adjustments to the allowance for loan losses in connection with business combinations. Excludes allowance for loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(d))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 7

-Subparagraph d

-Article 9

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)(1)(ii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379141&loc=d3e15032-111544

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 6

-Section L

-Subsection 1

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of deferred interest and fee income, unamortized costs incurred to originate loans and leases, unamortized loan commitments and loan syndication fees, and premiums over or discounts from face amounts of acquired loans. Excludes amounts for loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28368275&loc=d3e5074-111524

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6378556&loc=d3e10152-111534

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (a)(4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496975&loc=d3e45377-112738

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 7

-Article 9

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount before allowance of loans and leases held in portfolio, including but not limited to, commercial and consumer loans. Includes deferred interest and fees, undisbursed portion of loan balance, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28367877&loc=d3e4428-111522

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableGrossCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before allowance and after deduction of deferred interest and fees, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts, of loans and leases held in portfolio, including but not limited to, commercial and consumer loans. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetOfDeferredIncome
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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