Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues:
Affiliates	$ 245,582	$ 168,261		$ 146,367
Third parties	46,978	46,007	[1]	35,770	[1]
Total revenues	292,560	214,268	[1]	182,137	[1]
Operating costs and expenses:
Operating Costs and Expenses	89,242	64,521	[1]	54,946	[1]
Depreciation and amortization	57,461	36,958	[1]	31,363	[1]
General and administrative	7,594	6,576	[1]	7,719	[1]
Total operating costs and expenses	154,297	108,055	[1]	94,028	[1]
Operating income	138,263	106,213	[1]	88,109	[1]
Other income (expense):
Equity in earnings of SLC Pipeline	3,364	2,552	[1]	2,393	[1]
Interest expense	(47,182)	(35,959)	[1]	(33,994)	[1]
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(2,979)	0	[1]	0	[1]
Other expense	10	17	[1]	17	[1]
Other nonoperating income (expense) and equity earnings	(46,787)	(33,390)	[1]	(31,584)	[1]
Income before income taxes	91,476	72,823	[1]	56,525	[1]
State income tax expense	(371)	(234)	[1]	(296)	[1]
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	91,105	72,589	[1]	56,229	[1]
Operating costs of acquired assets for period prior to acquisition	4,200	6,351	[1]	70	[1]
Net Income (Loss), Predecessor Entity	(4,200)	(6,351)
Allocation of Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(1,153)	859	[1]	24	[1]
Net income attributable to Holly Energy Partners	94,152	79,799	[1]	56,323	[1]
Less general partner interest in net income, including incentive distributions	(22,450)	(16,806)	[1]	(12,084)	[1]
Limited partners’ interest in net income	71,702	62,993	[1]	44,239	[1]
Limited partners’ per unit interest in earnings—basic and diluted:	$ 1.29	$ 1.38	[1]	$ 1.00	[1]
Weighted average limited partners’ units outstanding	55,696	45,672	[1]	44,157	[1]
HFC [Member]
Revenues:
Affiliates	$ 245,582	$ 168,261	[1]	$ 146,367	[1]

[1] (1) Restated as described in Note 2.