Consolidated Statements Of Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales and other revenues	$ 5,327,122	$ 5,204,798	$ 15,333,759	$ 14,943,217
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	4,809,990	3,898,736	13,059,333	11,767,417
Operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	256,318	233,859	798,959	698,212
General and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	28,937	28,787	92,135	88,421
Depreciation and amortization	82,127	65,112	224,381	178,162
Total operating costs and expenses	5,177,372	4,226,494	14,174,808	12,732,212
Income from operations	149,750	978,304	1,158,951	2,211,005
Other income (expense):
Earnings (loss) of equity method investments	159	852	(871)	2,455
Interest income	1,482	2,219	3,791	3,360
Interest expense	(13,954)	(21,103)	(55,068)	(81,360)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	0	(22,109)	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Gain (Loss)	0	0	0	326
Other income (expense) total	(12,313)	(18,032)	(74,257)	(75,219)
Income before income taxes	137,437	960,272	1,084,694	2,135,786
Income tax provision:
Current	(10,454)	324,211	339,612	753,018
Deferred	58,982	25,411	47,053	22,728
Income tax provision total	48,528	349,622	386,665	775,746
Net income	88,909	610,650	698,029	1,360,040
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	6,619	10,277	25,089	24,472
Net income attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders	$ 82,290	$ 600,373	$ 672,940	$ 1,335,568
Earnings per share attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders:
Basic	$ 0.41	$ 2.95	$ 3.33	$ 6.46
Diluted	$ 0.41	$ 2.94	$ 3.33	$ 6.44
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.80	$ 1.15	$ 2.40	$ 2.40
Average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic	199,098	202,655	201,109	205,768
Diluted	199,509	203,532	201,486	206,654