Consolidated Statements Of Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales and other revenues	$ 4,931,738	$ 2,326,585
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	4,186,917	1,984,617
Operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	241,627	134,743
General and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	27,528	16,818
Depreciation and amortization	56,102	31,308
Total operating costs and expenses	4,512,174	2,167,486
Income from operations	419,564	159,099
Other income (expense):
Earnings of equity method investments	717	740
Interest income	460	85
Interest expense	(33,315)	(16,204)
Merger transaction costs	0	(3,698)
Other income (expense) total	(32,138)	(19,077)
Income before income taxes	387,426	140,022
Income tax provision:
Current	142,870	49,489
Deferred	(2,464)	(478)
Income tax provision total	140,406	49,011
Net income	247,020	91,011
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	5,324	6,317
Net income attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders	$ 241,696	$ 84,694
Earnings per share attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders:
Basic	$ 1.16	$ 0.79
Diluted	$ 1.16	$ 0.79
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.60	$ 0.075
Average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic	208,531	106,614
Diluted	209,138	107,266