Guarantor Subsidiaries Financial Information Gurantor Subsidiaries Statement of Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 116,003	$ (1,821)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	5,119	45,757
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	(46,965)	(18,595)
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassification from Accumulated OCI to Income, Estimated Net Amount to be Transferred	16,313	(22,713)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(25,533)	4,449
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	90,470	2,628
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	257
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	90,470	2,885
Parent Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(1,564)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	(5,119)	(45,757)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	46,965	18,595
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassification from Accumulated OCI to Income, Estimated Net Amount to be Transferred	(16,313)	22,713
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	25,533	(4,449)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		2,885
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	90,470	2,885
CNX Gas Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(325)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	46,965	18,595
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassification from Accumulated OCI to Income, Estimated Net Amount to be Transferred	(16,313)	22,713
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	30,652	41,308
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(41,633)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		257
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	16,218	(41,376)
Other Guarantors Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		100,041
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	(5,119)	(45,757)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	0	0
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassification from Accumulated OCI to Income, Estimated Net Amount to be Transferred	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(5,119)	(45,757)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		145,798
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	136,017	145,798
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		4,131
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	0	0
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassification from Accumulated OCI to Income, Estimated Net Amount to be Transferred	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	0	0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		4,131
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	(4,259)	4,131
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(104,104)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	5,119	45,757
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	(46,965)	(18,595)
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassification from Accumulated OCI to Income, Estimated Net Amount to be Transferred	16,313	(22,713)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(25,533)	4,449
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(108,553)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	$ (147,976)	$ (108,553)