CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES:
Coal sales	$ 1,711,114	$ 1,861,788	$ 2,158,006
Transportation revenues	41,700	30,111	33,597
Other sales and operating revenues	43,027	39,124	81,708
Total revenues	1,795,841	1,931,023	2,273,311
EXPENSES:
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization)	1,095,167	1,124,848	1,386,783
Transportation expenses	41,700	30,111	33,597
Outside coal purchases		1,514	327
General and administrative	63,331	75,087	69,076
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	268,981	336,509	323,983
Asset impairment			100,130
Total operating expenses	1,469,179	1,568,069	1,913,896
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS	326,662	362,954	359,415
Interest expense (net of interest capitalized of $551, $358 and $695, respectively)	(39,385)	(30,669)	(31,153)
Interest income	102	14	1,460
Equity investment income (loss)	13,860	3,543	(49,046)
Cost investment income	6,398
Acquisition gain, net			22,548
Debt extinguishment loss	(8,148)
Other income	2,980	725	955
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	302,469	336,567	304,179
INCOME TAX EXPENSE	211	14	21
NET INCOME	302,258	336,553	304,158
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	(116,270)	(150,619)	(92,846)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P. ("NET INCOME OF AHGP")	$ 185,988	$ 185,934	$ 211,312
BASIC NET INCOME OF AHGP PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT (in dollars per unit)	$ 3.11	$ 3.11	$ 3.53
DILUTED NET INCOME OF AHGP PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT (in dollars per unit)	3.11	3.11	3.53
DISTRIBUTIONS PAID PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT (in dollars per unit)	$ 2.565	$ 2.61	$ 3.7725
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING – BASIC (in units)	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING - DILUTED (in units)	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000