Supplemental Guarantor/Non-Guarantor Financial Information Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 Parent [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Parent [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Non Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Non Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Holly Frontier Corp. Before Consolidation Of HEP [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Holly Frontier Corp. Before Consolidation Of HEP [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Non-Guarantor Non-Restricted Subsidiaries (HEP Segment) [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Non-Guarantor Non-Restricted Subsidiaries (HEP Segment) [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Eliminations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Eliminations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 HEP [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 HEP [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 HEP [Member] Parent [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 HEP [Member] Parent [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 HEP [Member] Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 HEP [Member] Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 HEP [Member] Non Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 HEP [Member] Non Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 HEP [Member] Holly Frontier Corp. Before Consolidation Of HEP [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 HEP [Member] Holly Frontier Corp. Before Consolidation Of HEP [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 HEP [Member] Non-Guarantor Non-Restricted Subsidiaries (HEP Segment) [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 HEP [Member] Non-Guarantor Non-Restricted Subsidiaries (HEP Segment) [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 HEP [Member] Eliminations [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 HEP [Member] Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash flows from operating activities	$ 429,503	$ 457,996	$ 347,534	$ 304,061	$ 45,516	$ 122,324	$ (6,489)	$ 5,051	$ 386,561	$ 431,436	$ 73,500	$ 46,289	$ (30,558)	$ (19,729)
Additions to properties, plants and equipment	(116,012)	(133,405)	(1,679)	(2,623)	(102,722)	(51,382)	(11,611)	(79,400)	(116,012)	(133,405)	0	0	0	0	(12,008)	(22,900)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(12,008)	(22,900)	0	0
Investment in Sabine Biofuels	(2,000)	(9,125)	0	(9,125)	(2,000)	0	0	0	(2,000)	(9,125)	0	0	0	0
Purchases of marketable securities	(166,429)	(157,782)	(166,429)	(157,782)	0	0	0	0	(166,429)	(157,782)	0	0	0	0
Sales and maturities of marketable securities	151,996	68,150	151,066	68,150	930	0	0	0	151,996	68,150	0	0	0	0
Net cash used for investing activities	(144,453)	(255,062)	(17,042)	(101,380)	(103,792)	(51,382)	(11,611)	(79,400)	(132,445)	(232,162)	(12,008)	(22,900)	0	0
Net borrowings under credit agreement – HEP																27,000		0		0		0		0		27,000		0
Net repayments under credit agreement – HEP															(30,000)		0		0		0		0		(30,000)		0
Repayment of promissory notes	0		0		72,900		0		72,900		(72,900)		0
Net proceeds from issuance of senior notes - HEP															294,750	0	0		0		0		0		294,750		0
Principal tender on senior notes - HEP	5,000		5,000		0		0		5,000		0		0		(185,000)		0		0		0		0		(185,000)		0
Purchase of treasury stock	(189,771)	(2,996)	(189,771)	(2,996)	0	0	0	0	(189,771)	(2,996)	0	0	0	0
Net prepayment related to structured share repurchase arrangement	(100,000)	0	(100,000)		0		0		(100,000)		0		0
Contribution from joint venture partner	6,000	16,500	0	0	(9,000)	(63,000)	15,000	79,500	6,000	16,500	0	0	0	0
Dividends	(249,958)	(15,984)	(249,958)	(15,984)	0	0	0	0	(249,958)	(15,984)	0	0	0	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interest			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0					(28,944)	(25,133)									(59,977)	(44,862)	31,033	19,729
Excess tax benefit from equity based compensation	4,762	498	4,762	498	0	0	0	0	4,762	498	0	0	0	0
Purchase of units for restricted grants - HEP															(4,533)	(1,379)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(4,533)	(1,379)	0	0
Deferred financing costs	(3,229)	(3,289)	0	(140)	(67)	0	0	0	(67)	(140)	(3,162)	(3,149)	0	0
Other	(833)	(563)	0	0	(635)	(563)	0	0	(635)	(563)	277	0	(475)	0
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(491,756)	(5,346)	(539,967)	(18,622)	63,198	(63,563)	15,000	79,500	(461,769)	(2,685)	(60,545)	(22,390)	30,558	19,729
Increase (decrease) for the period	(206,706)	197,588	(209,475)	184,059	4,922	7,379	(3,100)	5,151	(207,653)	196,589	947	999	0	0
Beginning of period	1,578,904	229,101	1,575,891	230,082	(3,358)	(9,035)	3,102	7,651	1,575,635	228,698	3,269	403	0	0	3,269
End of period	$ 1,372,198	$ 426,689	$ 1,366,416	$ 414,141	$ 1,564	$ (1,656)	$ 2	$ 12,802	$ 1,367,982	$ 425,287	$ 4,216	$ 1,402	$ 0	$ 0	$ 4,216