Consolidated Statements Of Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales and other revenues	$ 4,806,681	$ 2,967,133	$ 9,738,419	$ 5,293,718
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	3,681,764	2,447,095	7,868,681	4,431,712
Operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	222,726	139,345	464,353	274,088
General and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	32,106	18,682	59,634	35,500
Depreciation and amortization	56,948	31,832	113,050	63,140
Total operating costs and expenses	3,993,544	2,636,954	8,505,718	4,804,440
Income from operations	813,137	330,179	1,232,701	489,278
Other income (expense):
Earnings of equity method investments	886	467	1,603	1,207
Interest income	681	657	1,141	742
Interest expense	(26,942)	(15,193)	(60,257)	(31,397)
Gain on sale of marketable equity securities	326	0	326	0
Merger transaction costs	0	(2,316)	0	(6,014)
Other income (expense) total	(25,049)	(16,385)	(57,187)	(35,462)
Income before income taxes	788,088	313,794	1,175,514	453,816
Income tax provision:
Current	285,937	115,051	428,807	164,540
Deferred	(219)	(3,090)	(2,683)	(3,568)
Income tax provision total	285,718	111,961	426,124	160,972
Net income	502,370	201,833	749,390	292,844
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	8,871	9,598	14,195	15,915
Net income attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders	$ 493,499	$ 192,235	$ 735,195	$ 276,929
Earnings per share attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders:
Basic	$ 2.40	$ 1.80	$ 3.55	$ 2.60
Diluted	$ 2.39	$ 1.79	$ 3.54	$ 2.58
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.65	$ 0.075	$ 1.25	$ 0.15
Average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic	205,727	106,730	207,129	106,672
Diluted	206,481	107,340	207,938	107,286