Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Nov. 01, 2016
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	HANCOCK HOLDING CO
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Central Index Key	0000750577
Trading Symbol	hbhc
Amendment Flag	false
Document Type	10-Q
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		77,574,054