CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES:
Coal sales	$ 1,979,437	$ 1,786,089	$ 1,551,539
Transportation revenues	22,034	31,939	33,584
Other sales and operating revenues	32,459	25,175	24,620
Total revenues	2,033,930	1,843,203	1,609,743
EXPENSES:
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization)	1,303,291	1,131,750	1,009,935
Transportation expenses	22,034	31,939	33,584
Outside coal purchases	38,607	54,280	17,078
General and administrative	62,713	54,991	54,215
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	218,122	160,335	146,881
Asset impairment charge	19,031
Total operating expenses	1,663,798	1,433,295	1,261,693
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS	370,132	409,908	348,050
Interest expense (net of interest capitalized of $8,436, $14,797 and $888, respectively)	(28,684)	(21,954)	(30,062)
Interest income	231	380	204
Equity in loss of affiliates, net	(14,650)	(3,404)
Other income	3,115	983	851
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	330,144	385,913	319,043
INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)	(1,082)	(430)	1,742
NET INCOME	331,226	386,343	317,301
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	(135,158)	(172,200)	(142,957)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P. ("NET INCOME OF AHGP")	$ 196,068	$ 214,143	$ 174,344
BASIC AND DILUTED NET INCOME OF AHGP PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT (in dollars per unit)	$ 3.28	$ 3.58	$ 2.91
DISTRIBUTIONS PAID PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT (in dollars per unit)	$ 2.7225	$ 2.275	$ 1.90
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING - BASIC AND DILUTED (in shares)	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000