Debt (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended						3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014 8.25% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 6.875% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 6.875% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Holly Frontier Credit Agreement [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Plains [Member] Lease [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 HEP [Member] 8.25% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 HEP [Member] 8.25% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 HEP [Member] 6.5% Senior Notes Due 2020 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 HEP [Member] 6.5% Senior Notes Due 2020 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 HEP [Member] Letter of Credit [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 HEP [Member] Holly Energy Partners Credit Agreement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 HEP [Member] Holly Energy Partners Credit Agreement [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 HEP [Member] Notes Payable to Banks [Member] 8.25% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity under revolving credit agreement						$ 1,000,000,000						$ 50,000,000	$ 650,000,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount						4,500,000
Borrowings outstanding under revolving credit agreement													537,700,000	363,000,000
Stated interest rate, senior notes				6.875%				8.25%		6.50%
Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount			156,200,000
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	(7,677,000)	0						7,700,000
Redemption Premium	(156,188,000)							6,200,000
Amortization of Debt Discount (Premium)								1,500,000
Senior notes				150,000,000	150,000,000			0	150,000,000	300,000,000	300,000,000
Debt Instrument, Face Amount															150,000,000
Proceeds from sale of storage assets							$ 40,000,000
Term of lease, years							15 years