Debt (Carrying Amounts Of Long-Term Debt) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt (HEP: $527,213 and $482,271, respectively)	$ 1,224,987	$ 810,561
HEP [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
HEP Credit Agreement	202,000	159,000
Long-term debt (HEP: $527,213 and $482,271, respectively)	527,213	482,271
HEP [Member] \| 6.25% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal	185,000
HEP [Member] \| 8.25% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal	150,000
9.875% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal	300,000	300,000
Unamortized discount	(9,619)	(10,491)
Long-term debt carrying amount	290,381	289,509
6.875% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal	150,000
Unamortized premium - designated fair value hedge	6,792
Long-term debt carrying amount	156,792
6.25% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal	185,000	185,000
Unamortized discount	(8,988)	(10,961)
Unamortized premium - designated fair value hedge	1,184	1,444
Long-term debt carrying amount	177,196	175,483
8.25% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal	150,000	150,000
Unamortized discount	(1,983)	(2,212)
Long-term debt carrying amount	148,017	147,788
8.5% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal	199,985
Unamortized premium - designated fair value hedge	12,692
Long-term debt carrying amount	212,677
Holly Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
HEP Credit Agreement	160,600
Holly Financing Obligation [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal	37,924	38,781
Holly Corporation [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt (HEP: $527,213 and $482,271, respectively)	$ 697,774	$ 328,290

Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal through the balance sheet date.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 7

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- Definition

Including current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of long-term borrowings as of the balance sheet date before deducting unamortized discount or premiums (if any). May include notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, which had initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number APB14-1

-Paragraph 31

-Subparagraph b

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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- Definition

The amount of debt discount that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number APB14-1

-Paragraph 31

-Subparagraph b

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 21

-Paragraph 16, 20

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of debt premium that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 21

-Paragraph 16, 20

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- Definition

Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance-sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

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- Definition

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all long-term debt, which is debt initially having maturities due after one year from the balance sheet date or beyond the operating cycle, if longer, but excluding the portions thereof scheduled to be repaid within one year (current maturities) or the normal operating cycle, if longer, and after deducting unamortized discount or premiums, if any.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

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- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer), excluding current portion. Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

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