GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Revenue and Other Income:
Coal Revenue	$ 351,009	$ 316,448
Terminal Revenue	15,221	12,886
Freight Revenue	17,887	12,282
Miscellaneous Other Income	25,887	22,650
Gain on Sale of Assets	254	7,955
Total Revenue and Other Income	410,258	372,221
Costs and Expenses:
Operating and Other Costs	229,802	229,994
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	49,471	52,993
Freight Expense	17,887	12,282
Selling, General and Administrative Costs	13,484	17,079
Loss on Debt Extinguishment	1,426	0
Interest Expense, net	21,045	4,022
Total Costs and Expenses	333,115	316,370
Earnings Before Income Tax	77,143	55,851
Income Tax Expense	6,185	9,406
Net Income	70,958	46,445
Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	8,550	5,464
Net Income Attributable to CONSOL Energy Inc. Shareholders	62,408	40,981
Elimination
Revenue and Other Income:
Coal Revenue	0	0
Terminal Revenue	0	0
Freight Revenue	0	0
Miscellaneous Other Income	(77,636)	(35,543)
Gain on Sale of Assets	0	0
Total Revenue and Other Income	(77,636)	(35,543)
Costs and Expenses:
Operating and Other Costs	0	0
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	0	0
Freight Expense	0	0
Selling, General and Administrative Costs	0	0
Loss on Debt Extinguishment	0	0
Interest Expense, net	0	0
Total Costs and Expenses	0	0
Earnings Before Income Tax	(77,636)	(35,543)
Income Tax Expense	0	0
Net Income	(77,636)	(35,543)
Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	8,550	5,464
Net Income Attributable to CONSOL Energy Inc. Shareholders	(86,186)	(41,007)
Parent Issuer | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenue and Other Income:
Coal Revenue	0	0
Terminal Revenue	0	0
Freight Revenue	0	0
Miscellaneous Other Income	90,304	50,598
Gain on Sale of Assets	0
Total Revenue and Other Income	90,304	50,598
Costs and Expenses:
Operating and Other Costs	0	0
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	0	0
Freight Expense	0	0
Selling, General and Administrative Costs	0	0
Loss on Debt Extinguishment	1,426	0
Interest Expense, net	20,285	211
Total Costs and Expenses	21,711	211
Earnings Before Income Tax	68,593	50,387
Income Tax Expense	6,185	9,406
Net Income	62,408	40,981
Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0
Net Income Attributable to CONSOL Energy Inc. Shareholders	62,408	40,981
Guarantor | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenue and Other Income:
Coal Revenue	263,257	237,336
Terminal Revenue	15,221	12,886
Freight Revenue	13,415	9,212
Miscellaneous Other Income	11,018	6,494
Gain on Sale of Assets	178	7,958
Total Revenue and Other Income	303,089	273,886
Costs and Expenses:
Operating and Other Costs	176,820	180,111
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	38,657	42,472
Freight Expense	13,415	9,212
Selling, General and Administrative Costs	10,464	13,796
Loss on Debt Extinguishment	0	0
Interest Expense, net	944	1,354
Total Costs and Expenses	240,300	246,945
Earnings Before Income Tax	62,789	26,941
Income Tax Expense	0
Net Income	62,789	26,941
Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0
Net Income Attributable to CONSOL Energy Inc. Shareholders	62,789	26,941
Non-Guarantor | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenue and Other Income:
Coal Revenue	0	0
Terminal Revenue	0	0
Freight Revenue	0	0
Miscellaneous Other Income	0	0
Gain on Sale of Assets	0	0
Total Revenue and Other Income	0	0
Costs and Expenses:
Operating and Other Costs	695	0
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	0	0
Freight Expense	0	0
Selling, General and Administrative Costs	0	0
Loss on Debt Extinguishment	0	0
Interest Expense, net	0	0
Total Costs and Expenses	695	0
Earnings Before Income Tax	(695)	0
Income Tax Expense	0	0
Net Income	(695)	0
Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0
Net Income Attributable to CONSOL Energy Inc. Shareholders	(695)	0
Non-Guarantor | CCR Non-Guarantor | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenue and Other Income:
Coal Revenue	87,752	79,112
Terminal Revenue	0	0
Freight Revenue	4,472	3,070
Miscellaneous Other Income	2,201	1,101
Gain on Sale of Assets	76	(3)
Total Revenue and Other Income	94,501	83,280
Costs and Expenses:
Operating and Other Costs	52,287	49,883
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	10,814	10,521
Freight Expense	4,472	3,070
Selling, General and Administrative Costs	3,020	3,283
Loss on Debt Extinguishment	0	0
Interest Expense, net	(184)	2,457
Total Costs and Expenses	70,409	69,214
Earnings Before Income Tax	24,092	14,066
Net Income	24,092	14,066
Less: Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0	0
Net Income Attributable to CONSOL Energy Inc. Shareholders	$ 24,092	$ 14,066