Name:	ahgp_OwnershipInterestsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	ahgp_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The price per unit of units sold in a public offering. Units represent shares of ownership of the general, limited, and preferred partners.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ahgp_PartnersCapitalAccountPricePerUnitSoldInPublicOffering
Namespace Prefix:	ahgp_
Data Type:	us-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of units distributed to affiliates of the entity. Units represent shares of ownership of the general, limited, and preferred partners.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ahgp_PartnersCapitalAccountUnitsDistributedToAffiliates
Namespace Prefix:	ahgp_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents a special allocation of general and administrative expenses to the general partner.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ahgp_SpecialAllocationOfGeneralAndAdministrativeExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	ahgp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of units held in the subsidiary by the limited liability company or limited partnership.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ahgp_UnitsOwnedByParent
Namespace Prefix:	ahgp_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of units or percentage investment held by one or more members or limited partners of the LLC or LP.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 272

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6373374&loc=d3e70478-108055

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The number of units sold in a public offering of each class of partners' capital account. Units represent shares of ownership of the general, limited, and preferred partners.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 16

-Subparagraph a, b

-Article 6

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 4.F)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6959260&loc=d3e187171-122770

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 87-21

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Practice Bulletin (PB)

-Number 14

-Paragraph 15

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PartnersCapitalAccountUnitsSoldInPublicOffering
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Individual, partnership, corporation, or other entity that is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the subsidiary of the limited liability company (LLC) or limited partnership (LP). May also include a description of the compensation or fee arrangements--such as incentive compensation--of the managing member or general partner as related to the performance of the subsidiary of the LLC or LP.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The number of units or percentage investment held in the subsidiary by the limited liability company or limited partnership.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 22

-Article 12

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsidiaryOfLimitedLiabilityCompanyOrLimitedPartnershipOwnershipInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

ORGANIZATION AND PRESENTATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended							0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 ARLP	Dec. 31, 2011 ARLP	Dec. 31, 2012 ARLP SGP	Dec. 31, 2012 Alliance Coal	Dec. 31, 2012 MGP	Dec. 31, 2012 Intermediate Partnership SGP	Dec. 31, 2012 Limited Partners' Capital	Dec. 31, 2011 Limited Partners' Capital	May 15, 2006 IPO ARLP	Apr. 26, 2007 IPO Alliance Coal	May 15, 2006 IPO Alliance Coal	May 15, 2006 IPO MGP	May 15, 2006 IPO Limited Partners' Capital	May 15, 2006 IPO Limited Partners' Capital SGP	May 15, 2006 IPO Limited Partners' Capital AMH	May 15, 2006 IPO Limited Partners' Capital AMH II	Apr. 02, 2011 Secondary Public Offering Limited Partners' Capital
Ownership interests
Partnership units sold															12,500,000				2,750,000
Units distributed to affiliates																20,641,168	6,863,470	19,858,362
Units owned by parent			15,544,169								15,550,628
Price per partnership unit sold															$ 25.00				$ 54.21
Contributions from affiliates for general and administrative expenses	$ 2,000	$ 5,000	$ 2,000	$ 5,000					$ 2,000	$ 5,000
Ownership percentage by limited partners	100.00%
Subsidiaries holding percentage						0.001%	100.00%					0.001%	0.001%	100.00%
Managing general partner of the subsidiary												MGP	AHGP
Ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners					0.01%			0.01%