The total accrued reclamation and closure costs.

No definition available.

Name:	hl_AccruedReclamationAndClosureCostsTotal
Namespace Prefix:	hl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The element represents the estimated undiscounted cost of preliminary reclamation and closure plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hl_EstimatedUndiscountedCostOfPreliminaryReclamationAndClosurePlan
Namespace Prefix:	hl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The element represents the estimated undiscounted cost of preliminary revised reclamation and closure plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hl_EstimatedUndiscountedCostOfPreliminaryRevisedReclamationAndClosurePlan
Namespace Prefix:	hl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	hl_Note13AssetRetirementObligationsDetailsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	hl_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Value of reclamation bond.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hl_ReclamationBond
Namespace Prefix:	hl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Risk-free interest rate assumption used in valuing an instrument.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25499696&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the carrying amount of asset retirement obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAssetRetirementObligations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Note 13 - Asset Retirement Obligations (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Note 13 - Asset Retirement Obligations (Details) [Line Items]
Accrued Reclamation and Closure Costs	$ 114.0	$ 105.2
Estimated Undiscounted Cost of Preliminary Revised Reclamation and Closure Plan	102.7		73.9
Estimated Undiscounted Cost of Preliminary Reclamation and Closure Plan			53.4
Increase (Decrease) in Asset Retirement Obligations	8.0
Reclamation Bond	$ 30
Minimum [Member]
Note 13 - Asset Retirement Obligations (Details) [Line Items]
Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate	4.00%
Maximum [Member]
Note 13 - Asset Retirement Obligations (Details) [Line Items]
Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate	7.00%