Guarantor Subsidiaries Financial Information Gurantor Subsidiaries Statement of Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ (24,935)	$ (12,813)	$ 91,069	$ (14,634)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	(3,798)	42,904	1,321	88,661
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	12,218	(45,749)	59,183	(27,154)
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassification from Accumulated OCI to Income, Estimated Net Amount to be Transferred	(6,951)	9,528	(23,264)	32,241
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	9,065	(79,125)	34,598	(83,574)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(34,000)	66,312	56,471	68,940
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	(287)	0	(544)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	(34,000)	66,599	56,471	69,484
Parent Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(24,935)	(12,526)	91,069	(14,090)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	3,798	(42,904)	(1,321)	(88,661)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	(12,218)	45,749	(59,183)	27,154
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassification from Accumulated OCI to Income, Estimated Net Amount to be Transferred	6,951	(9,528)	23,264	(32,241)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(9,065)	79,125	(34,598)	83,574
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		66,599		69,484
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0		0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	(34,000)	66,599	56,471	69,484
CNX Gas Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	15,501	(2,749)	62,372	(3,074)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	(12,218)	45,749	(59,183)	27,154
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassification from Accumulated OCI to Income, Estimated Net Amount to be Transferred	6,951	(9,528)	23,264	(32,241)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(5,267)	36,221	(35,919)	(5,087)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		33,472		(8,161)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(287)		(544)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	10,234	33,759	26,453	(7,617)
Other Guarantors Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	72,562	240,781	200,156	340,822
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	3,798	(42,904)	(1,321)	(88,661)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	0	0	0	0
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassification from Accumulated OCI to Income, Estimated Net Amount to be Transferred	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(3,798)	42,904	1,321	88,661
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		283,685		429,483
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0		0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	68,764	283,685	201,477	429,483
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	1,498	(13,805)	(3,008)	(9,674)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	0	0	0	0
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassification from Accumulated OCI to Income, Estimated Net Amount to be Transferred	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(13,805)		(9,674)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0		0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	1,498	(13,805)	(3,008)	(9,674)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(89,561)	(224,514)	(259,520)	(328,618)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	(3,798)	42,904	1,321	88,661
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	12,218	(45,749)	59,183	(27,154)
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassification from Accumulated OCI to Income, Estimated Net Amount to be Transferred	(6,951)	9,528	(23,264)	32,241
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	9,065	(79,125)	34,598	(83,574)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(303,639)		(412,192)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0		0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	$ (80,496)	$ (303,639)	$ (224,922)	$ (412,192)