Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Components And Allocated Tax Effects Of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities	$ (655)	$ (51)	$ (972)	$ (58)
Unrealized gain (loss) on hedging activities, Before-Tax	23,272	(1,845)	24,864	(3,826)
Retirement medical obligation adjustment, Before-tax	9		9
Other comprehensive income (loss), Before-Tax	22,626	(1,896)	23,901	(3,884)
Less other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, Before-Tax	717	(461)	1,737	(2,804)
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders, Before-Tax	21,909	(1,435)	22,164	(1,080)
Unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities, Tax Expense (Benefit)	(252)	(20)	(376)	(24)
Unrealized gain (loss) on hedging activities, Tax Expense (Benefit)	8,772	(538)	8,994	(396)
Retirement medical obligation adjustment, Tax Expense (Benefit)
Other comprehensive income (loss), Tax Expense (Benefit)	8,520	(558)	8,618	(420)
Less other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, Tax Expense (Benefit)
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders, Tax Expense (Benefit)	8,520	(558)	8,618	(420)
Unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities, After-Tax	(403)	(31)	(596)	(34)
Unrealized gain (loss) on hedging activities, After-Tax	14,500	(1,307)	15,870	(3,430)
Retirement medical obligation adjustment, After-Tax	9		9
Other comprehensive income (loss), After-Tax	14,106	(1,338)	15,283	(3,464)
Less other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, After-Tax	717	(461)	1,737	(2,804)
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders, After-Tax	$ 13,389	$ (877)	$ 13,546	$ (660)

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Retirement Medical Obligation Adjustment, before Tax

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Other comprehensive income (loss) retirement medical obligation adjustment, net of tax

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Other Comprehensive Income Net Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period

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Pre tax change in accumulated gains and losses from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges, net of reclassifications into earnings during the period. A cash flow hedge is a hedge of the exposure to variability in the cash flows of a recognized asset or liability or a forecasted transaction that is attributable to a particular risk. Includes an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gains or losses.

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This element represents Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Before Tax, for the period. The pretax revenues, expenses, gains, and losses that under generally accepted accounting principles are included in comprehensive income, but excluded from net income. Includes the entity's proportionate share of an investee's equity adjustments for other comprehensive income.

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This element represents Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Before Tax, for the period attributable to noncontrolling interest. The pre-tax revenues, expenses, gains, and losses that under generally accepted accounting principles are included in comprehensive income, but excluded from net income. Includes the entity's proportionate share of an investee's equity adjustments for other comprehensive income.

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Pre-tax change in accumulated gains and losses from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges, net of reclassifications into earnings during the period, attributable to the parent entity. A cash flow hedge is a hedge of the exposure to variability in the cash flows of a recognized asset or liability or a forecasted transaction that is attributable to a particular risk. Includes an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gains or losses.

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This element represents Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, for the period. Includes deferred gains (losses) on qualifying hedges, unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, minimum pension liability, and cumulative translation adjustment.

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This element represents Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, for the period attributable to noncontrolling interest. Includes deferred gains (losses) on qualifying hedges, unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, minimum pension liability, and cumulative translation adjustment.

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This element represents Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, for the period attributable to the parent entity. Includes deferred gains (losses) on qualifying hedges, unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, minimum pension liability, and cumulative translation adjustment.

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Tax effect of the change in accumulated other comprehensive income, that is, the tax effect on items included in other comprehensive income during the period.

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Tax effect of the change in accumulated other comprehensive income, that is, the tax effect on items included in other comprehensive income during the period that is attributable to noncontrolling interest.

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Change in accumulated gains and losses from derivative instrument designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges, net of tax effect. The after tax effect change includes an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gains or losses.

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Tax effect on the change in accumulated gains and losses from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges. Includes an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gains or losses.

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Appreciation or loss in value (before reclassification adjustment) of the total of unsold securities during the period being reported on, net of tax. Reclassification adjustments include: (1) the unrealized holding gain or loss, net of tax, at the date of the transfer for a debt security from the held-to-maturity category transferred into the available-for-sale category. Also includes the unrealized gain or loss at the date of transfer for a debt security from the available-for-sale category transferred into the held-to-maturity category; (2) the unrealized gains or losses realized upon the sale of securities, after tax; and (3) the unrealized gains or losses realized upon the write-down of securities, after tax.

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Tax effect on gross appreciation or the gross loss in value of the total of unsold securities during the period being reported on.

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