Consolidated Statements Of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales and other revenues	$ 20,090,724	$ 15,439,528	$ 8,322,929
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	15,840,643	12,680,078	7,367,149
Operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	994,966	748,081	504,414
General and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	128,101	120,114	70,839
Depreciation and amortization	242,868	159,707	117,529
Total operating costs and expenses	17,206,578	13,707,980	8,059,931
Income from operations	2,884,146	1,731,548	262,998
Other income (expense):
Earnings of equity method investments	2,923	2,300	2,393
Interest income	4,786	1,284	1,168
Interest expense	(104,186)	(78,323)	(74,196)
Gain on sale of marketable equity securities	326	0	0
Merger transaction costs	0	(15,114)	0
Other income (expense) total	(96,151)	(89,853)	(70,635)
Income before income taxes	2,787,995	1,641,695	192,363
Income tax provision:
Current	932,554	590,851	35,472
Deferred	95,408	(8,860)	23,840
Income tax provision total	1,027,962	581,991	59,312
Net income	1,760,033	1,059,704	133,051
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	32,861	36,307	29,087
Net income attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders	$ 1,727,172	$ 1,023,397	$ 103,964
Earnings per share attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 8.41	$ 6.46	$ 0.98
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 8.38	$ 6.42	$ 0.97
Average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	205,289	158,486	106,436
Diluted (in shares)	206,184	159,294	107,218