Earnings Per Share (Schedule Of Earnings Per Share) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders	$ 82,290		$ 600,373		$ 672,940		$ 1,335,568
Participating securities' share in earnings	285		2,657		2,447		5,745
Net income attributable to common shares	$ 82,005		$ 597,716		$ 670,493		$ 1,329,823
Average number of shares of common stock outstanding	199,098,000		202,655,000		201,109,000		205,768,000
Effect of dilutive variable restricted shares and performance share units	411,000	[1]	877,000	[1]	377,000	[1]	886,000	[1]
Average number of shares of common stock outstanding assuming dilution	199,509,000		203,532,000		201,486,000		206,654,000
Basic earnings per share	$ 0.41		$ 2.95		$ 3.33		$ 6.46
Diluted earnings per share	$ 0.41		$ 2.94		$ 3.33		$ 6.44
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	251		0		1		3

[1] (1) Excludes anti-dilutive restricted and performance share units of: 251 — 1 3