Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Feb. 09, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Central Index Key	0000719413
Entity Registrant Name	HECLA MINING COMPANY
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2023
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2023
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-8491
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	77-0664171
Entity Address, Address Line One	6500 N. Mineral Drive, Suite 200
Entity Address, City or Town	Coeur d’Alene
Entity Address, State or Province	ID
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	83815-9408
City Area Code	208
Local Phone Number	769-4100
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Document Financial Statement Error Correction [Flag]	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 3,068,556,667
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		625,117,775
Documents Incorporated by Reference	To the extent herein specifically referenced in Part III, the information contained in the Proxy Statement for the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the registrant, which will be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days of the end of the registrant’s 2023 fiscal year, is incorporated herein by reference. See Part III.
Auditor Name	BDO USA, P.C.
Auditor Location	Spokane, Washington
Auditor Firm ID	243
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.25 per share
Trading Symbol	HL
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series B Cumulative Preferred Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series B Cumulative Convertible PreferredStock, par value $0.25 per share
Trading Symbol	HL-PB
Security Exchange Name	NYSE