CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 2,838,399	$ 2,970,697	$ 2,214,418
Costs and expenses:
Costs of sales and operating expenses	2,030,046	2,160,946	1,558,098
Selling, general and administrative	312,913	304,397	220,452
Taxes, other than on income	41,933	39,251	29,163
Depreciation and amortization	219,632	224,972	202,881
Impairment of long-lived assets	0	82,705	105,712
Impairment of goodwill	0	2,702	0
Lease cancellation costs	0	2,403	0
Loss (gain) on disposition of assets	(8,152)	(1,968)	4,487
Total costs and expenses	2,596,372	2,815,408	2,120,793
Operating income	242,027	155,289	93,625
Equity in earnings of affiliates	379	355	291
Other income	3,408	5,371	570
Interest expense	(55,994)	(46,856)	(21,472)
Earnings before taxes on income	189,820	114,159	73,014
Benefit (provision) for taxes on income	(46,801)	(35,081)	240,889
Net earnings	143,019	79,078	313,903
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(672)	(626)	(716)
Net earnings attributable to Kirby	$ 142,347	$ 78,452	$ 313,187
Net earnings per share attributable to Kirby common stockholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.38	$ 1.31	$ 5.62
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.37	$ 1.31	$ 5.62
Marine Transportation [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 1,587,082	$ 1,483,143	$ 1,324,106
Distribution and Services [Member]
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 1,251,317	$ 1,487,554	$ 890,312