Consolidated Statements Of Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales and other revenues	$ 4,707,789	$ 4,931,738
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	3,792,535	4,186,917
Operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	265,099	241,627
General and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	29,198	27,528
Depreciation and amortization	71,762	56,102
Total operating costs and expenses	4,158,594	4,512,174
Income from operations	549,195	419,564
Other income (expense):
Earnings of equity method investments	59	717
Interest income	1,531	460
Interest expense	(21,320)	(33,315)
Other income (expense) total	(19,730)	(32,138)
Income before income taxes	529,465	387,426
Income tax provision:
Current	206,627	142,870
Deferred	(20,533)	(2,464)
Income tax provision total	186,094	140,406
Net income	343,371	247,020
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	9,702	5,324
Net income attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders	$ 333,669	$ 241,696
Earnings per share attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders:
Basic	$ 1.64	$ 1.16
Diluted	$ 1.63	$ 1.16
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.80	$ 0.60
Average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic	203,515	208,531
Diluted	204,217	209,138