Earnings Per Share (Schedule Of Earnings Per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net Income (loss) attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders	$ 53,165	$ 74,497	$ (409,368)	$ 21,253	$ (43,921)	$ 196,322	$ 360,824	$ 226,876	$ (260,453)	$ 740,101	$ 281,292
Participating securities share in earnings									1,003	2,306	820
Net income (loss) attributable to common shares									$ (261,456)	$ 737,795	$ 280,472
Average number of shares of common stock outstanding	175,936	175,871	175,865	176,737	181,460	187,208	191,355	195,069	176,101	188,731	197,243
Effect of dilutive variable restricted shares and performance share units									0	209	185
Average number of shares of common stock outstanding assuming dilution	176,137	175,993	175,865	176,784	181,460	187,344	191,454	195,121	176,101	188,940	197,428
Basic earnings (loss) per share	$ 0.30	$ 0.42	$ (2.33)	$ 0.12	$ (0.24)	$ 1.05	$ 1.88	$ 1.16	$ (1.48)	$ 3.91	$ 1.42
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$ 0.30	$ 0.42	$ (2.33)	$ 0.12	$ (0.24)	$ 1.04	$ 1.88	$ 1.16	$ (1.48)	$ 3.90	$ 1.42
Excludes anti-dilutive restricted and performance share units									469	89	356