Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Defined Benefit Plan, Accumulated Benefit Obligation	$ 1,900,000	$ 1,600,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Expected Long-term Return on Assets	7.20%
Long-term Investments	9,614,000	3,923,000
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Employer Contribution	407,000	246,000	229,000
Hecla Common Stock [Member]
Long-term Investments	2,900,000	2,600,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Actual Plan Asset Allocations	4.00%
Real Estate [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	12,100,000
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets		8,200,000
Collective Investment Funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	8,200,000
Capital Accumulation Plans [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contribution Per Employee, Percent	1.00%
Capital Accumulation Plans [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contribution Per Employee, Percent	50.00%
Minimum [Member]
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contribution Per Employee, Percent	2.00%
Maximum [Member]
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contribution Per Employee, Percent	50.00%
Hecla Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year	1,000,000
Unfunded Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Estimated Future Employer Contributions in Next Fiscal Year	300,000
Capital Accumulation Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer	2,500,000	2,200,000	2,100,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	21,400,000
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets		$ 16,900,000