Share-Based Compensation, Other Equity Awards (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Equity Instruments Other than Options Activity [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1 (in shares)	995
Granted (in shares)	500	503	522
Forfeited (in shares)	(126)
Vested (in shares)	(475)	(467)	(530)
Dividend equivalents (in shares)	45
Balance at December 31 (in shares)	939	995
Equity Instruments Other than Options, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract]
Balance at January 1, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 38.48
Granted, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	47.60	$ 41.02	$ 36.00
Forfeited, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	41.74
Vested, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	35.92
Dividend equivalents, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	40.74
Balance at December 31, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 44.30	$ 38.48
Equity Instruments Other than Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Award Vesting Period (in years)	3 years
Total fair value of equity awards vested during the period	$ 23,393	$ 22,459	$ 21,575
Performance-based awards [Member]
Equity Instruments Other than Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Award Vesting Period (in years)	3 years
Service-based awards [Member]
Equity Instruments Other than Options Activity [Roll Forward]
Granted (in shares)	300	300	300
Xcel Energy Inc. 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan [Member] | Service-based awards [Member]
Equity Instruments Other than Options Activity [Roll Forward]
Granted (in shares)	7,000
Equity Award Granted Between 2014 and 2017 | Performance-based awards [Member] | Minimum
Equity Instruments Other than Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Percentage payout for performance-based equity awards	0.00%
Equity Award Granted Between 2014 and 2017 | Performance-based awards [Member] | Maximum
Equity Instruments Other than Options, Additional Disclosures [Abstract]
Percentage payout for performance-based equity awards	200.00%
Xcel Energy Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan [Member] | Service-based awards [Member]
Equity Instruments Other than Options Activity [Roll Forward]
Granted (in shares)	8,300
Xcel Energy Inc. Executive Annual Incentive Award Plan [Member] | Service-based awards [Member]
Equity Instruments Other than Options Activity [Roll Forward]
Granted (in shares)	1,200