Debt (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended								9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 9.875% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 9.875% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 9.875% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 6.875% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 6.875% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Holly Frontier Credit Agreement [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Plains [Member] Lease [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 HEP [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 HEP [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 HEP [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 HEP [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 HEP [Member] 8.25% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 HEP [Member] 8.25% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 HEP [Member] 6.5% Senior Notes Due 2020 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 HEP [Member] 6.5% Senior Notes Due 2020 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 HEP [Member] Letter of Credit [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 HEP [Member] Distributions To Unit Holder [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 HEP [Member] Holly Energy Partners Credit Agreement Member	Dec. 31, 2012 HEP [Member] Holly Energy Partners Credit Agreement Member
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock		$ 73,400,000														$ 146,888,000
Amortization of Debt Discount (Premium)				7,900,000
Maximum borrowing capacity under revolving credit agreement												1,000,000,000										50,000,000	60,000,000	550,000,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount												28,900,000
Borrowings outstanding under revolving credit agreement																								365,000,000	421,000,000
Stated interest rate, senior notes								9.875%		6.875%								8.25%		6.50%
Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount								301,000,000
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	0		0		(22,109,000)	0
Redemption Premium				(14,200,000)	(14,161,000)	0
Net proceeds from issuance of senior notes - HEP																0	294,750,000
Principal tender on senior notes					(286,812,000)	(205,000,000)										0	(185,000,000)
Senior notes							0		286,812,000	150,000,000	150,000,000							150,000,000	150,000,000	300,000,000	300,000,000
Interest Expense	13,954,000		21,103,000		55,068,000	81,360,000								(529,000)	(1,695,000)	(2,398,000)	(4,760,000)
Proceeds from sale of storage assets													40,000,000
Term of lease, years													15 years
Capitalized interest attributable to construction projects	$ 2,800,000		$ 2,500,000		$ 9,200,000	$ 6,300,000