Note 15 - Acquisitions (Details) - Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation $ in Thousands, CAD in Millions	Jun. 15, 2015 USD ($)	Aug. 23, 2013 USD ($)	Jun. 02, 2013 USD ($)	Jun. 02, 2013 CAD	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Note 15 - Acquisitions (Details) - Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation [Line Items]
Cash payments			$ 496,200	CAD 514.5
Hecla stock issued			218,300	226.3
Total consideration			$ 714,500	CAD 740.8
Assets:
Property, plants, equipment and mineral interests						$ 715,400
Revett Mining Company Inc [Member]
Note 15 - Acquisitions (Details) - Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation [Line Items]
Cash payments	$ 949
Hecla stock issued	19,133
Total consideration	20,082
Assets:
Cash	140
Accounts receivable	137
Inventory	472
Deferred tax assets	7,193
Property, plants, equipment and mineral interests	17,609
Reclamation insurance	16,800				$ 16,800
Other assets	280
Total assets	42,631
Liabilities:
Accounts payable	975
Notes payable	4,061
Non-current reclamation liability	17,513				$ 17,500
Total liabilities	22,549
Net assets	$ 20,082
Aurizon Mines Ltd [Member]
Note 15 - Acquisitions (Details) - Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation [Line Items]
Cash payments		$ 496,211
Hecla stock issued		218,302
Total consideration		714,513
Assets:
Cash		177,587
Accounts receivable		14,307
Other current assets		7,036
Property, plants, equipment and mineral interests		715,391
Non-current restricted cash and investments		4,471
Other assets		795
Total assets		933,381
Liabilities:
Accounts payable		22,227
Non-current reclamation liability		11,113
Total liabilities		218,868
Net assets		714,513
Aurizon Mines Ltd [Member] | Bullion and Stockpiled Ore [Member]
Assets:
Inventory		8,090
Aurizon Mines Ltd [Member] | Supplies [Member]
Assets:
Inventory		5,704
Aurizon Mines Ltd [Member] | Accrued Payroll and Related Benefits [Member]
Fair value of net assets acquired:
Other current liabilities		7,613
Aurizon Mines Ltd [Member] | Accrued Taxes [Member]
Fair value of net assets acquired:
Other current liabilities		509
Aurizon Mines Ltd [Member] | Non-current Deferred Tax Liability [Member]
Fair value of net assets acquired:
Other non-current liabilities		177,016
Aurizon Mines Ltd [Member] | Other Non-current Liabilities [Member]
Fair value of net assets acquired:
Other non-current liabilities		$ 390