Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Reconciliation of Level 3 Assets - Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Real Estate [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Reconciliation of Level 3 Assets [Line Items]
Beginning balance	$ 8,889	$ 10,797
Net unrealized gains on assets held at the reporting date	1,094	973
Purchases	343	424
Sales	0	(3,305)
Ending balance	10,326	8,889
Real Estate [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Reconciliation of Level 3 Assets [Line Items]
Beginning balance	2,458	2,865
Net unrealized gains on assets held at the reporting date	303	243
Purchases	95	121
Sales	0	(771)
Ending balance	2,856	2,458
Common Collective Funds [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member]
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Reconciliation of Level 3 Assets [Line Items]
Beginning balance	8,454	7,970
Net unrealized gains on assets held at the reporting date	8	484
Purchases	0	0
Sales	(4,000)	0
Ending balance	4,462	8,454
Common Collective Funds [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member]
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Reconciliation of Level 3 Assets [Line Items]
Beginning balance	2,306	2,174
Net unrealized gains on assets held at the reporting date	3	132
Purchases	0	0
Sales	(1,000)	0
Ending balance	$ 1,309	$ 2,306