Retirement Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Percentage of compensation saved by participant for which employer contributes hundred percent	100.00%
Employer matching contribution for first one percent of compensation saved	1.00%
Percentage of compensation saved by participant for which employer contributes fifty percent	50.00%
Employer matching contribution for next five percent of compensation saved	5.00%
Pension Benefits [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Anticipated contributions for current fiscal year	$ 10
Hancock Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Percentage of savings for calculating each employee participation in plan	50.00%
Maximum percentage of compensation on base percentage for participating in plan	6.00%
Whitney Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Percentage of savings for calculating each employee participation in plan	100.00%
Maximum percentage of compensation on base percentage for participating in plan	4.00%

Defined Contribution Plan Employer Matching Contribution For First One Percent Of Compensation Saved

No definition available.

Name:	hbhc_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionForFirstOnePercentOfCompensationSaved
Namespace Prefix:	hbhc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Defined Contribution Plan Employer Matching Contribution For Next Five Percent Of Compensation Saved

No definition available.

Name:	hbhc_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionForNextFivePercentOfCompensationSaved
Namespace Prefix:	hbhc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Defined Contribution Plan Percentage Of Compensation Saved By Participant For Which Employer Contributes Fifty Percent

No definition available.

Name:	hbhc_DefinedContributionPlanPercentageOfCompensationSavedByParticipantForWhichEmployerContributesFiftyPercent
Namespace Prefix:	hbhc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Defined Contribution Plan Percentage Of Compensation Saved By Participant For Which Employer Contributes Hundred Percent

No definition available.

Name:	hbhc_DefinedContributionPlanPercentageOfCompensationSavedByParticipantForWhichEmployerContributesHundredPercent
Namespace Prefix:	hbhc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Maximum percentage of compensation on base percentage for participating in plan.

No definition available.

Name:	hbhc_MaximumPercentageOfCompensationOnBasePercentageForParticipatingInPlan
Namespace Prefix:	hbhc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of savings for calculating each employee participation in plan.

No definition available.

Name:	hbhc_PercentageOfSavingsForCalculatingEachEmployeeParticipationInPlan
Namespace Prefix:	hbhc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of employer's best estimate of contributions expected to be paid to the plan in the current remaining fiscal period.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsInCurrentFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration