Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 01, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Entity Registrant Name	Hickory Tech Corp
Entity Central Index Key	0000766561
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	No
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 145,264,767
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		13,409,941
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Amendment Description	We are restating our previously reported financial information for these periods to change our accounting for interest rate swaps. We utilize interest rate swap agreements to manage our exposure to interest rate fluctuations on a portion of our variable-interest rate debt. We account for our financial derivative instruments in accordance with FASB ASC 815 "Derivatives and Hedging" ("the Standard"). The Standard requires all derivative instruments (including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts) be recorded on the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value, and that changes in the derivatives' fair value be recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met. We applied a method of cash flow hedge accounting under FASB ASC 815 to account for the interest rate swap agreements that allowed us to record changes in the instruments' fair value in other comprehensive income (the "cash flow" method). After discussing the matter with our independent accountant, we recently concluded that the interest rate swap agreements did not qualify for the "cash flow" method in prior periods because of insufficient timely documentation. Under FASB ASC 815, cash flow hedge accounting is not allowed retrospectively because the documentation required was not in place at the inception of the hedge as well as on an ongoing basis. Eliminating the application of cash flow hedge accounting reverses the fair value adjustments that were made in other comprehensive income and transfers the fair value adjustments to earnings.