Drilling and related costs.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Types of metal contained in concentrates.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hl_MetalsContainedInConcentrates
Namespace Prefix:	hl_
Data Type:	num:weightItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	hl_Note1SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetailsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	hl_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total number of defined contribution plans the legal entity maintains.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hl_NumberOfDefinedContributionPlansMaintained
Namespace Prefix:	hl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the liability for remediation, site restoration, postclosure, monitoring commitments, or other exit costs associated with the sale, disposal or abandonment of a particular property resulting from unanticipated contamination of the assets.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.Y.Q4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011672&loc=d3e149879-122751

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 5

-Section Y

-Paragraph Question 4

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EnvironmentalExitCostsCostsAccruedToDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before tax of foreign currency transaction realized and unrealized gain recognized in the income statement.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 830

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450189&loc=d3e30690-110894

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 830

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450222&loc=d3e30840-110895

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 830

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450189&loc=d3e30700-110894

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount before tax of foreign currency transaction realized and unrealized loss recognized in the income statement.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of cash or cash equivalents contributed by the entity to fund its pension plans.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 25

-Subparagraph (g)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3536-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PensionContributions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate amount of noncash, equity-based employee remuneration. This may include the value of stock or unit options, amortization of restricted stock or units, and adjustment for officers' compensation. As noncash, this element is an add back when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.

+ 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_ShareBasedCompensation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	hl_MetalsInConcentratesAxis=hl_GoldMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	hl_MetalsInConcentratesAxis=hl_LeadMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	hl_MetalsInConcentratesAxis=hl_SilverMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	hl_MetalsInConcentratesAxis=hl_ZincMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	hl_PensionPlanAxis=hl_DefinedBenefitPensionPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	hl_PensionPlanAxis=hl_UnfundedSupplementalExecutiveRetirementPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis=hl_DefinedBenefitPensionPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Capitalized Drilling Costs	$ 5,300,000hl_CapitalizedDrillingCosts	$ 8,000,000hl_CapitalizedDrillingCosts	$ 5,000,000hl_CapitalizedDrillingCosts
Pension Contributions	6,500,000us-gaap_PensionContributions
Number of Defined Contribution Plans Maintained	2
Environmental Exit Costs, Costs Accrued to Date	57,300,000
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain, before Tax	11,500,000	3,000,000
Foreign Currency Transaction Loss, before Tax			100,000
Share-based Compensation	4,965,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	4,461,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	3,101,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Unfunded Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan [Member] \| Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Pension Contributions				400,000
Unfunded Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan [Member]
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Pension Contributions	300,000	300,000	300,000
Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Pension Contributions		1,000,000	1,100,000
Silver [Member]
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Metals Contained in Concentrates	1,700,000
Gold [Member]
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Metals Contained in Concentrates	6,702
Zinc [Member]
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Metals Contained in Concentrates	10,394
Lead [Member]
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Metals Contained in Concentrates	4,542
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Pension Contributions					4,900,000
Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Pension Contributions				0
Minimum [Member]
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	1 year
Maximum [Member]
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	28 years
Defined Benefit Pension Plan [Member]
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Pension Contributions	$ 6,500,000