Compliance Program Market Risk [Abstract]

No definition available.

Name:	alj_ComplianceProgramMarketRiskAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	alj_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Other comprehensive income, amortization of unrealized gain (loss) attributable to discontinued cash flow hedges

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	alj_OtherComprehensiveIncomeAmortizationOfUnrealizedGainLossAttributableToDiscontinuedCashFlowHedges
Namespace Prefix:	alj_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount of derivative expressed in nonmonetary units. For example, the number of barrels specified in a fuel oil forward purchase contract.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 12
-Section 13
-Sentence Column B

+ Details

Name:	invest_DerivativeNonmonetaryNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before tax of increase (decrease) in accumulated equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest. Excludes net income (loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners (distributions to owners).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTax1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The estimated net amount of existing gains or losses on cash flow hedges at the reporting date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next 12 months.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35736893&loc=d3e80748-113994

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedWithinTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Indirect expenses and cost incurred associated with goods produced and sold during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CostOfGoodsSoldOverhead
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Average fixed interest rate related to the group of interest rate derivatives.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFixedInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The net gain (loss) relating to components of the gain (loss) on the cash flow hedging instrument excluded from the assessment of cash flow hedge effectiveness. Recognized in earnings.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4C
-Subparagraph (d)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64837297&loc=SL5624171-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossFromComponentsExcludedFromAssessmentOfCashFlowHedgeEffectivenessNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net gain (loss) recognized in earnings during the reporting period representing the amount of the cash flow hedges' ineffectiveness.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4C
-Subparagraph (d)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64837297&loc=SL5624171-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnCashFlowHedgeIneffectivenessNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount before tax, after reclassification adjustments, of increase (decrease) in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10A
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66004124&loc=SL7669646-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt classified as other.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: 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(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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

- Definition

Percentage of an entity's outstanding debt that is designated as a hedged item in cash flow, fair value, or net investment hedge.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PercentageOfDebtHedgedByInterestRateDerivatives
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_SwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_LongTermDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=alj_AlonRetailCreditAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis=us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis=us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_ForwardContractsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis=us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_OtherContractMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Derivative Financial Instruments Textuals (Details) bbl in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) bbl	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) bbl	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash Flow Hedges:
Gain (Loss) on Cash Flow Hedge Ineffectiveness, Net	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Component of Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) Excluded From Hedge Effectiveness Assessment	0	0	0	0
Compliance Program Market Risk:
Compliance Program Costs	9,136	10,394	20,347	23,090
Commodity Contracts
Cash Flow Hedges:
Other Comprehensive Income, Amortization Of Unrealized (Gain) Loss Attributable To Discontinued Cash Flow Hedges	0	(9,955)	0	(17,937)
Net gain (loss)	0	(9,955)	0	(11,867)
Interest Rate Swaps
Cash Flow Hedges:
Net gain (loss)	(172)	$ 186	(1,223)	$ (729)
Swaps \| Term Loan \| Alon Retail Credit Agreement
Cash Flow Hedges:
Retail credit facilities	$ 101,933		$ 101,933
Swaps \| Interest Rate Swaps \| Scenario, Forecast
Cash Flow Hedges:
Derivative, Average Fixed Interest Rate					3.06%	2.89%	2.22%	1.69%
Swaps \| Interest Rate Swaps \| Term Loan \| Alon Retail Credit Agreement
Cash Flow Hedges:
Percentage of Debt Hedged by Interest Rate Derivatives	75.00%		75.00%
Cash Flow Hedging
Cash Flow Hedges:
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before tax	$ (3,399)		$ (3,399)
Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) to be Reclassified within Twelve Months			$ (1,026)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Forward Contracts \| Commodity Contracts
Notional Disclosures (in barrels):
Nonmonetary Notional Amount \| bbl	4,500		4,500
Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Forward Contracts \| Fair Value Hedges
Notional Disclosures (in barrels):
Nonmonetary Notional Amount \| bbl	539		539