Consolidated Statements Of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Sales and other revenues	$ 5,173,398	$ 2,090,988	$ 10,467,116	$ 6,111,138
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	3,989,927	1,807,044	8,421,639	5,379,120
Operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	227,883	130,263	501,971	378,638
General and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	43,141	16,925	78,641	50,623
Depreciation and amortization	43,240	29,138	106,380	85,719
Total operating costs and expenses	4,304,191	1,983,370	9,108,631	5,894,100
Income from operations	869,207	107,618	1,358,485	217,038
Other income (expense):
Earnings of equity method investments	532	570	1,739	1,595
Interest income	204	64	946	758
Interest expense	(25,074)	(17,368)	(56,471)	(56,113)
Merger transaction costs	(9,100)		(15,114)
Other income (expense) total	(33,438)	(16,734)	(68,900)	(53,760)
Income before income taxes	835,769	90,884	1,289,585	163,278
Income tax provision:
Current	296,670	9,042	461,210	48,964
Deferred	8,088	22,452	4,520	5,512
Income tax provision total	304,758	31,494	465,730	54,476
Net income	531,011	59,390	823,855	108,802
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	7,923	8,213	23,838	19,557
Net income attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders	$ 523,088	$ 51,177	$ 800,017	$ 89,245
Earnings per share attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders:
Basic	$ 2.50	$ 0.48	$ 5.66	$ 0.84
Diluted	$ 2.48	$ 0.48	$ 5.63	$ 0.83
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 1.09	$ 0.08	$ 1.24	$ 0.23
Average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic	209,583	106,420	141,353	106,344
Diluted	210,579	107,134	142,092	107,062