Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Amounts Reclassified to Income Statement (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Interest Income									$ 4,430	$ 5,556	$ 4,786
Income tax provision									141,172	391,576	1,027,962
Net income									326,328	767,823	1,760,033
Revenues	4,283,119	5,317,555	5,372,600	4,791,053	4,826,801	5,327,122	5,298,848	4,707,789	19,764,327	20,160,560	20,090,724
Cost of Goods Sold									17,625,863	17,392,227	15,840,643
Operating expenses									1,144,940	1,090,850	994,966
General and Administrative Expense									114,609	127,963	128,101
Interest Expense									43,646	68,050	104,186
Defined Benefit Plan, Recognized Net Gain (Loss) Due to Settlements and Curtailments									0	37,589	1,956
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest									45,036	31,981	32,861
Net income attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders	(222,204)	175,006	176,429	152,061	62,902	82,290	256,981	333,669	281,292	735,842	1,727,172
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassifications from Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) to Income Statement									33,296	(11,811)	(35,240)
Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Interest Income									4	39	59
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Equity Investments									0	0	326
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Sale of Securities, before Tax									4	39	385
Income tax provision									2	15	150
Net income									(2)	(24)	(235)
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Income tax provision									19,712	5,554	(22,590)
Net income									29,890	7,015	(39,188)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest									49,602	12,569	(61,778)
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest									1,335	1,783	3,753
Net income attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders									31,225	8,798	(35,435)
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Commodity Contract [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Revenues									88,326	(20,060)	(98,750)
Cost of Goods Sold									(37,313)	38,949	43,575
Operating expenses									791	(3,379)	0
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Interest Expense									(2,202)	(2,941)	(6,603)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] | Other Pension Plan, Postretirement or Supplemental Plans [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Income tax provision									1,663	1,563	759
Net income									2,633	2,477	1,193
Cost of Goods Sold									482	646	0
Operating expenses									3,366	2,868	1,913
Interest Expense									448	526	39
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest									4,296	4,040	1,952
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Income tax provision									0	(14,547)	(761)
Net income									0	(23,042)	(1,195)
Cost of Goods Sold									0	(3,226)	(226)
Operating expenses									0	(30,127)	(1,486)
Interest Expense									0	(4,236)	(244)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest									0		(1,956)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] | Other Pension Plan [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Income tax provision									(356)	(43)	(25)
Net income									(564)	(68)	(38)
General and Administrative Expense									$ (920)	$ (111)	$ (63)