CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES:
Coal sales	$ 2,137,449		$ 1,979,437		$ 1,786,089
Transportation revenues	32,642		22,034		31,939
Other sales and operating revenues	35,108		32,459		25,175
Total revenues	2,205,199	[1]	2,033,930	[1]	1,843,203	[1]
EXPENSES:
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization)	1,398,763		1,303,291		1,131,750
Transportation expenses	32,642		22,034		31,939
Outside coal purchases	2,030		38,607		54,280
General and administrative	65,231		62,713		54,991
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	264,911		218,122		160,335
Asset impairment charge			19,031
Total operating expenses	1,763,577		1,663,798		1,433,295
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS	441,622		370,132		409,908
Interest expense (net of interest capitalized of $8,992, $8,436 and $14,797, respectively)	(27,044)		(28,684)		(21,954)
Interest income	963		231		380
Equity in loss of affiliates, net	(24,441)		(14,650)		(3,404)
Other income	1,891		3,115		983
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	392,991		330,144		385,913
INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)	1,397		(1,082)		(430)
NET INCOME	391,594		331,226		386,343
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	(157,721)		(135,158)		(172,200)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P. ("NET INCOME OF AHGP")	$ 233,873		$ 196,068		$ 214,143
BASIC AND DILUTED NET INCOME OF AHGP PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT (in dollars per unit)	$ 3.91		$ 3.28		$ 3.58
DISTRIBUTIONS PAID PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT (in dollars per unit)	$ 3.095		$ 2.7225		$ 2.275
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING - BASIC AND DILUTED (in units)	59,863,000		59,863,000		59,863,000

[1] Revenues included in the Other and Corporate column are primarily attributable to Matrix Group revenues, Mt. Vernon transloading revenues and brokerage sales.