CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 2,970,697	$ 2,214,418	$ 1,770,673
Costs and expenses:
Costs of sales and operating expenses	2,160,946	1,558,098	1,124,666
Selling, general and administrative	304,397	220,452	174,863
Taxes, other than on income	39,251	29,163	22,730
Depreciation and amortization	224,972	202,881	200,917
Impairment of long-lived assets	82,705	105,712	0
Impairment of goodwill	2,702	0	0
Lease cancellation costs	2,403	0	0
Loss (gain) on disposition of assets	(1,968)	4,487	127
Total costs and expenses	2,815,408	2,120,793	1,523,303
Operating income	155,289	93,625	247,370
Equity in earnings of affiliates	355	291	532
Other income (expense)	5,371	570	(2,466)
Interest expense	(46,856)	(21,472)	(17,690)
Earnings before taxes on income	114,159	73,014	227,746
Benefit (provision) for taxes on income	(35,081)	240,889	(84,942)
Net earnings	79,078	313,903	142,804
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(626)	(716)	(1,398)
Net earnings attributable to Kirby	$ 78,452	$ 313,187	$ 141,406
Net earnings per share attributable to Kirby common stockholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.31	$ 5.62	$ 2.63
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.31	$ 5.62	$ 2.62
Marine Transportation [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 1,483,143	$ 1,324,106	$ 1,471,893
Distribution and Services [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 1,487,554	$ 890,312	$ 298,780