Basis of Presentation (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Basis of Presentation (Policies)	Sep. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	1. Basis of Presentation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Hancock Holding Company and all other entities in which it has a controlling interest (the “Company”). The financial statements include all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the interim periods presented. Some financial information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (U.S. GAAP) have been condensed or omitted in this Form 10-Q pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. Financial information reported in these financial statements is not necessarily indicative of the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows for any other interim or annual period.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The accounting principles the Company follows and the methods for applying these principles conform with U.S. GAAP and with those generally practiced within the banking industry. These accounting principles require management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Current tax liabilities or assets are recognized for the estimated income taxes payable or refundable on tax returns to be filed with respect to the current year. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are based on temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of the Company’s assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be realized or settled. Valuation allowances are established against deferred tax assets if, based on all available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the assets will not be realized. The benefit of a position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return is recognized when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on its technical merits. The Company invests in projects that yield tax credits issued under the Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZAB), Qualified School Construction Bonds (QSCB), Federal and State New Market Tax Credit (NMTC), and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) programs. Returns on these investments are generated through the receipt of federal and state tax credits. The tax credits are recorded as a reduction to the income tax provision in the year that they are earned. Tax credits from QZAB and QSCB bonds are generally earned over the life of the bonds in lieu of interest income. Credits on Federal NMTC investments are earned over the seven-year compliance period beginning with the year of investment. Credits on State NMTC investments are generally earned over a three- to five- year period depending upon the specific state program. Tax Credits for Low-Income Housing investments are earned over a ten-year period beginning with the year in which rental activity begins. These tax credits, if not used in the tax return for the year when the credits are first available for use, can be carried forward for 20 years. For those investments where the return of the principal is not expected, the equity investment is amortized over the life of the tax compliance period as a component of noninterest expense.
Reportable Segment Disclosures	Reportable Segment Disclosures Accounting standards require that information be reported about a company’s operating segments using a “management approach.” Reportable segments are identified in these standards as those revenue-producing components for which separate financial information is produced internally and which are subject to evaluation by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources to segments. On March 31, 2014, the Company combined its two state bank charters into one charter. Due to the charter change and consistent with its stated strategy that is focused on providing a consistent package of community banking products and services across all markets, the Company has identified its overall banking operations as its only reportable segment. Because the overall banking operations comprise substantially all of the consolidated operations, no separate segment disclosures are presented. There were no other material changes or developments with respect to methodologies that the Company uses when applying what management believes are critical accounting policies and developing critical accounting estimates as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Disclosure of accounting policy for income taxes, which may include its accounting policies for recognizing and measuring deferred tax assets and liabilities and related valuation allowances, recognizing investment tax credits, operating loss carryforwards, tax credit carryforwards, and other carryforwards, methodologies for determining its effective income tax rate and the characterization of interest and penalties in the financial statements.

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