CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Kirby stockholders' equity:
Common stock, par value per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	120,000,000	120,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	59,776,000	59,776,000
Treasury stock, shares (in shares)	5,808,000	5,921,000