Document And Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Aug. 05, 2019
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Central Index Key	0000719413
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Registrant Name	HECLA MINING CO/DE/
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2019
Entity File Number	1-8491
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	77-0664171
Entity Address, Address Line One	6500 Mineral Drive, Suite 200
Entity Address, City or Town	Coeur d'Alene
Entity Address, State or Province	ID
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	83815-9408
City Area Code	208
Local Phone Number	769-4100
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		490,250,767
Series B Cumulative Preferred Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series B
Trading Symbol	HL-PB
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Common Stock 1 [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock
Trading Symbol	HL
Security Exchange Name	NYSE