Guarantor Subsidiaries Income Statement (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Line Items]
Sales-Outside	$ 814,991	$ 735,968	$ 2,521,385	$ 2,261,917
Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales	257,358	192,781	753,399	531,859
Coal Sales	483,960	479,311	1,554,939	1,532,280
Revenue from Purchased Oil and Gas	1,205	1,607	6,183	4,372
Other Revenue, Net	73,673	63,876	213,047	197,778
Gas Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Sales	18,815	17,113	68,773	51,109
Freight-Outside	2,497	9,579	22,551	31,492
Other Income (including equity earnings)	40,784	20,822	165,815	77,729
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	7,529	19,863	12,615	52,208
Total Revenue and Other Income	884,616	803,345	2,791,139	2,474,455
Oil and Gas Property, Lease Operating Expense	30,005	23,600	85,622	70,835
Gas Gathering, Transportation, Marketing and Processing Costs	68,234	46,699	179,813	144,002
Production Tax Expense	8,486	8,033	28,817	20,011
E&P Direct Administration and Selling	14,060	11,725	39,216	34,615
E&P Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization	82,538	58,998	225,766	164,832
Exploration and Production Costs	8,042	22,771	15,765	43,666
Production Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Costs	15,751	13,805	58,519	41,165
Other Expenses	13,700	26,289	60,876	74,239
Results of Operations, General and Administrative Related to Oil and Gas Producing Activities	14,874	10,177	47,755	29,239
Oil and Gas Production Expense	255,690	222,097	742,149	622,604
Operating Expenses	339,216	328,393	1,013,606	993,342
Taxes, Miscellaneous	23,306	24,380	77,397	79,257
Direct Administration, Selling and Other Costs	10,479	11,608	33,589	34,744
Coal Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization	64,880	57,265	186,029	169,702
Freight Expense	2,497	9,579	22,551	31,492
General and Administrative Expense	10,434	8,607	33,397	27,946
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	10,114	11,145	41,444	43,056
Cost of Coal Products and Services	460,926	450,977	1,408,013	1,379,539
Other Nonoperating Expense	92,974	75,439	266,601	272,346
Other General and Administrative Expense	425	376	1,259	1,269
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	1,247	1,467	3,885	4,303
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	20,990	0	95,267	0
Interest Expense	55,397	56,300	170,539	164,194
Other General Expense	171,033	133,582	537,551	442,112
Total Costs	887,649	806,656	2,687,713	2,444,255
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	(3,033)	(3,311)	103,426	30,200
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(1,388)	68,858	8,315	97,531
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	(1,645)	(72,169)	95,111	(67,331)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	0	8,120	(5,687)	(11,352)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(1,645)	(64,049)	89,424	(78,683)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	(398)	0	(942)
Net Income (Loss)	(1,645)	(63,651)	89,424	(77,741)
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	148,665	117,730	415,680	338,837
Parent Issuer [Member]
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Line Items]
Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales	0	0	0	0
Coal Sales	0	0	0	0
Other Revenue, Net	0	0	0	0
Gas Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Sales	0	0	0	0
Freight-Outside	0	0	0	0
Other Income (including equity earnings)	68,307	78,203	329,842	354,386
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	0	0	0	0
Total Revenue and Other Income	68,307	78,203	329,842	354,386
Oil and Gas Property, Lease Operating Expense	0	0	0	0
Gas Gathering, Transportation, Marketing and Processing Costs	0	0	0	0
Production Tax Expense	0	0	0	0
E&P Direct Administration and Selling	0	0	0	0
E&P Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization	0	0	0	0
Exploration and Production Costs	0	0	0	0
Production Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Costs	0	0	0	0
Other Expenses	0	0	0	0
Results of Operations, General and Administrative Related to Oil and Gas Producing Activities	0	0	0	0
Oil and Gas Production Expense	0	0	0	0
Operating Expenses	3,458	2,749	20,060	5,878
Taxes, Miscellaneous	0	0	0	0
Direct Administration, Selling and Other Costs	0	0	0	0
Coal Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization	159	3,116	472	9,193
Freight Expense	0	0	0	0
General and Administrative Expense	0	0	0	0
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	10,114	11,145	41,444	43,056
Cost of Coal Products and Services	13,731	17,010	61,976	58,127
Other Nonoperating Expense	23,681	33,572	63,903	101,711
Other General and Administrative Expense	0	0	0	0
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	6	172	19	542
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	20,990		95,267
Interest Expense	52,907	52,165	162,729	153,141
Other General Expense	97,584	85,909	321,918	255,394
Total Costs	111,315	102,919	383,894	313,521
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	(43,008)	(24,716)	(54,052)	40,865
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(41,363)	38,935	(143,476)	118,606
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	(1,645)	(63,651)	89,424	(77,741)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(1,645)	(63,651)	89,424	(77,741)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0		0
Net Income (Loss)	(1,645)	(63,651)	89,424	(77,741)
CNX Gas Guarantor [Member]
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Line Items]
Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales	257,844	193,383	755,337	534,223
Coal Sales	0	0	0	0
Other Revenue, Net	0	0	0	0
Gas Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Sales	18,815	17,113	68,773	51,109
Freight-Outside	0	0	0	0
Other Income (including equity earnings)	13,858	11,133	51,688	29,895
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	5,488	1,462	11,560	7,159
Total Revenue and Other Income	296,005	223,091	887,358	622,386
Oil and Gas Property, Lease Operating Expense	30,005	23,600	85,622	70,835
Gas Gathering, Transportation, Marketing and Processing Costs	68,234	46,699	179,813	144,002
Production Tax Expense	8,486	8,033	28,817	20,011
E&P Direct Administration and Selling	14,060	11,725	39,216	34,615
E&P Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization	82,538	58,998	225,766	164,832
Exploration and Production Costs	8,042	22,771	15,765	43,666
Production Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Costs	15,751	13,815	58,531	41,196
Other Expenses	13,700	26,289	60,876	74,239
Results of Operations, General and Administrative Related to Oil and Gas Producing Activities	14,874	10,177	47,755	29,239
Oil and Gas Production Expense	255,690	222,107	742,161	622,635
Operating Expenses	0	0	0	0
Taxes, Miscellaneous	0	0	0	0
Direct Administration, Selling and Other Costs	0	0	0	0
Coal Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization	0	0	0	0
Freight Expense	0	0	0	0
General and Administrative Expense	0	0	0	0
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	0	0	0	0
Cost of Coal Products and Services	0	0	0	0
Other Nonoperating Expense	0	0	0	0
Other General and Administrative Expense	0	0	0	0
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	0	0	0	0
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	0		0
Interest Expense	2,629	2,578	6,593	6,375
Other General Expense	2,629	2,578	6,593	6,375
Total Costs	258,319	224,685	748,754	629,010
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	37,686	(1,594)	138,604	(6,624)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	13,281	(602)	51,828	(2,557)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	24,405	(992)	86,776	(4,067)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	24,405	(992)	86,776	(4,067)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(398)		(942)
Net Income (Loss)	24,405	(594)	86,776	(3,125)
Other Guarantors Subsidiaries [Member]
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Line Items]
Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales	0	203	0	203
Coal Sales	483,960	479,311	1,554,939	1,532,280
Other Revenue, Net	8,175	9,702	28,685	35,941
Gas Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Sales	0	0	0	0
Freight-Outside	2,497	9,579	22,551	31,492
Other Income (including equity earnings)	24,358	4,783	106,794	32,129
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	2,033	18,401	1,042	45,049
Total Revenue and Other Income	521,023	521,979	1,714,011	1,677,094
Oil and Gas Property, Lease Operating Expense	0	0	0	0
Gas Gathering, Transportation, Marketing and Processing Costs	0	0	0	0
Production Tax Expense	0	0	0	0
E&P Direct Administration and Selling	0	0	0	0
E&P Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization	0	0	0	0
Exploration and Production Costs	0	0	0	0
Production Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Costs	0	0	0	0
Other Expenses	0	0	0	0
Results of Operations, General and Administrative Related to Oil and Gas Producing Activities	0	0	0	0
Oil and Gas Production Expense	0	0	0	0
Operating Expenses	336,243	275,068	995,483	874,946
Taxes, Miscellaneous	23,306	24,380	77,397	79,257
Direct Administration, Selling and Other Costs	10,479	11,608	33,589	34,744
Coal Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization	64,721	54,149	185,557	160,509
Freight Expense	2,497	9,579	22,551	31,492
General and Administrative Expense	10,434	8,607	33,397	27,946
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	0	0	0	0
Cost of Coal Products and Services	447,680	383,391	1,347,974	1,208,894
Other Nonoperating Expense	6,050	4,183	21,349	34,188
Other General and Administrative Expense	205	141	608	474
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	775	785	2,437	2,269
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	0		0
Interest Expense	1,587	1,547	5,120	4,868
Other General Expense	8,617	6,656	29,514	41,799
Total Costs	456,297	390,047	1,377,488	1,250,693
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	64,726	131,932	336,523	426,401
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	25,221	31,378	96,861	(14,976)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	39,505	100,554	239,662	441,377
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	39,505	100,554	239,662	441,377
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0		0
Net Income (Loss)	39,505	100,554	239,662	441,377
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Line Items]
Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales	0	0	0	0
Coal Sales	0	0	0	0
Other Revenue, Net	65,498	54,174	184,362	161,837
Gas Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Sales	0	0	0	0
Freight-Outside	0	0	0	0
Other Income (including equity earnings)	2,400	4,928	7,442	15,705
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	8	0	13	0
Total Revenue and Other Income	67,906	59,102	191,817	177,542
Oil and Gas Property, Lease Operating Expense	0	0	0	0
Gas Gathering, Transportation, Marketing and Processing Costs	0	0	0	0
Production Tax Expense	0	0	0	0
E&P Direct Administration and Selling	0	0	0	0
E&P Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization	0	0	0	0
Exploration and Production Costs	0	0	0	0
Production Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Costs	0	0	0	0
Other Expenses	0	0	0	0
Results of Operations, General and Administrative Related to Oil and Gas Producing Activities	0	0	0	0
Oil and Gas Production Expense	0	0	0	0
Operating Expenses	0	0	0	0
Taxes, Miscellaneous	0	0	0	0
Direct Administration, Selling and Other Costs	0	0	0	0
Coal Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization	0	0	0	0
Freight Expense	0	0	0	0
General and Administrative Expense	0	0	0	0
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	0	0	0	0
Cost of Coal Products and Services	0	0	0	0
Other Nonoperating Expense	63,243	56,091	181,349	165,859
Other General and Administrative Expense	220	235	651	795
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	466	510	1,429	1,492
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	0		0
Interest Expense	82	13	185	34
Other General Expense	64,011	56,849	183,614	168,180
Total Costs	64,011	56,849	183,614	168,180
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	3,895	2,253	8,203	9,362
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	1,473	(853)	3,102	(3,542)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	2,422	3,106	5,101	12,904
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	0	8,120	(5,687)	(11,352)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	2,422	11,226	(586)	1,552
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0		0
Net Income (Loss)	2,422	11,226	(586)	1,552
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Line Items]
Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales	(486)	(805)	(1,938)	(2,567)
Coal Sales	0	0	0	0
Other Revenue, Net	0	0	0	0
Gas Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Sales	0	0	0	0
Freight-Outside	0	0	0	0
Other Income (including equity earnings)	(68,139)	(78,225)	(329,951)	(354,386)
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	0	0	0	0
Total Revenue and Other Income	(68,625)	(79,030)	(331,889)	(356,953)
Oil and Gas Property, Lease Operating Expense	0	0	0	0
Gas Gathering, Transportation, Marketing and Processing Costs	0	0	0	0
Production Tax Expense	0	0	0	0
E&P Direct Administration and Selling	0	0	0	0
E&P Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization	0	0	0	0
Exploration and Production Costs	0	0	0	0
Production Royalty Interests and Purchased Gas Costs	0	(10)	(12)	(31)
Other Expenses	0	0	0	0
Results of Operations, General and Administrative Related to Oil and Gas Producing Activities	0	0	0	0
Oil and Gas Production Expense	0	(10)	(12)	(31)
Operating Expenses	(485)	50,576	(1,937)	112,518
Taxes, Miscellaneous	0	0	0	0
Direct Administration, Selling and Other Costs	0	0	0	0
Coal Depreciation, Depletion, Amortization	0	0	0	0
Freight Expense	0	0	0	0
General and Administrative Expense	0	0	0	0
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	0	0	0	0
Cost of Coal Products and Services	(485)	50,576	(1,937)	112,518
Other Nonoperating Expense	0	(18,407)	0	(29,412)
Other General and Administrative Expense	0	0	0	0
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	0	0	0	0
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	0		0
Interest Expense	(1,808)	(3)	(4,088)	(224)
Other General Expense	(1,808)	(18,410)	(4,088)	(29,636)
Total Costs	(2,293)	32,156	(6,037)	82,851
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	(66,332)	(111,186)	(325,852)	(439,804)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	0	0	0	0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	(66,332)	(111,186)	(325,852)	(439,804)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(66,332)	(111,186)	(325,852)	(439,804)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0		0
Net Income (Loss)	$ (66,332)	$ (111,186)	$ (325,852)	$ (439,804)