<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
  <Version>2.4.0.6</Version>
  <ProcessingTime />
  <ReportFormat>Html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>121</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>236</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>31</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>6</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0001000 - Document - Document and Entity Information Document</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformationDocument</Role>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information Document</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001000 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/UnauditedCondensedConsolidatedBalanceSheets</Role>
      <ShortName>Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001001 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/UnauditedCondensedConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1002000 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of  Operations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/UnauditedCondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfOperations</Role>
      <ShortName>Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of  Operations</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1002001 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of  Operations (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/UnauditedCondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfOperationsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of  Operations (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1003000 - Statement - Unaudited Statements of Comprehensive Income Statement</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/UnauditedStatementsOfComprehensiveIncomeStatement</Role>
      <ShortName>Unaudited Statements of Comprehensive Income Statement</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1003001 - Statement - Unaudited Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/UnauditedStatementsOfComprehensiveIncomeParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Unaudited Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1004000 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/UnauditedCondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1005000 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/UnauditedCondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfChangesInEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1005001 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/UnauditedCondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfChangesInEquityParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2102100 - Disclosure - Basis of Presentation</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/BasisOfPresentation</Role>
      <ShortName>Basis of Presentation</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2104100 - Disclosure - Recently Issued Accounting Standards</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/RecentlyIssuedAccountingStandards</Role>
      <ShortName>Recently Issued Accounting Standards</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2105100 - Disclosure - Acquisitions</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/Acquisitions</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisitions</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2106100 - Disclosure - Other Events and Transactions</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/OtherEventsAndTransactions</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Events and Transactions</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2107100 - Disclosure - Inventories</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/Inventories</Role>
      <ShortName>Inventories</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2109100 - Disclosure - Stockholders Equity (Notes)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Notes</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/StockholdersEquityNotes</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders Equity (Notes)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2111100 - Disclosure - Financial Instruments and Derivative Financial Instruments</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/FinancialInstrumentsAndDerivativeFinancialInstruments</Role>
      <ShortName>Financial Instruments and Derivative Financial Instruments</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2112100 - Disclosure - Unconsolidated Subsidiaries</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/UnconsolidatedSubsidiaries</Role>
      <ShortName>Unconsolidated Subsidiaries</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2113100 - Disclosure - Contingencies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/Contingencies</Role>
      <ShortName>Contingencies</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2114100 - Disclosure - Product Warranties</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/ProductWarranties</Role>
      <ShortName>Product Warranties</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2115100 - Disclosure - Income Taxes</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/IncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2116100 - Disclosure - Retirement Benefit Plans</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/RetirementBenefitPlans</Role>
      <ShortName>Retirement Benefit Plans</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2117100 - Disclosure - Business Segments</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/BusinessSegments</Role>
      <ShortName>Business Segments</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2201200 - Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/SignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2305301 - Disclosure - Acquisitions (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/AcquisitionsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisitions (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2306301 - Disclosure - Other Events and Transactions Other Events and Transactions (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/OtherEventsAndTransactionsOtherEventsAndTransactionsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Events and Transactions Other Events and Transactions (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2307301 - Disclosure - Inventories (Table)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/InventoriesTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Inventories (Table)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2309301 - Disclosure - Stockholders Equity (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/StockholdersEquityTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders Equity (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2311301 - Disclosure - Financial Instruments and Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/FinancialInstrumentsAndDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Financial Instruments and Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2312301 - Disclosure - Unconsolidated Subsidiaries (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/UnconsolidatedSubsidiariesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Unconsolidated Subsidiaries (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2314301 - Disclosure - Product Warranties (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/ProductWarrantiesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Product Warranties (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2315301 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/IncomeTaxesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R33.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2316301 - Disclosure - Retirement Benefit Plans (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/RetirementBenefitPlansTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Retirement Benefit Plans (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R34.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2317301 - Disclosure - Business Segments (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/BusinessSegmentsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Business Segments (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R35.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2405402 - Disclosure - Acquisitions (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/AcquisitionsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisitions (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R36.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406402 - Disclosure - Other Events and Transactions (Sales Agreement and Development Activities) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/OtherEventsAndTransactionsSalesAgreementAndDevelopmentActivitiesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Events and Transactions (Sales Agreement and Development Activities) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R37.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406403 - Disclosure - Other Events and Transactions (Hyster-Yale Spin-Off) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/OtherEventsAndTransactionsHysterYaleSpinOffDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Events and Transactions (Hyster-Yale Spin-Off) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R38.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2407402 - Disclosure - Inventories (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/InventoriesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Inventories (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R39.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2409402 - Disclosure - Stockholders Equity (Share Repurchase Program) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/StockholdersEquityShareRepurchaseProgramDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders Equity (Share Repurchase Program) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R40.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2409403 - Disclosure - Stockholders Equity (Amounts Reclassified out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/StockholdersEquityAmountsReclassifiedOutOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders Equity (Amounts Reclassified out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R41.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411402 - Disclosure - Financial Instruments and Derivative Financial Instruments (Interest Rate Derivatives) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/FinancialInstrumentsAndDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsInterestRateDerivativesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Financial Instruments and Derivative Financial Instruments (Interest Rate Derivatives) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R42.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411403 - Disclosure - Financial Instruments and Derivative Financial Instruments (Fair Value of Derivative Instruments as Recorded in Consolidated Balance Sheets) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/FinancialInstrumentsAndDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsFairValueOfDerivativeInstrumentsAsRecordedInConsolidatedBalanceSheetsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Financial Instruments and Derivative Financial Instruments (Fair Value of Derivative Instruments as Recorded in Consolidated Balance Sheets) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R43.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411404 - Disclosure - Financial Instruments and Derivative Financial Instruments (Pre-tax Impact of Derivative Instruments as Recorded in Consolidated Statements of Operations) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/FinancialInstrumentsAndDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsPreTaxImpactOfDerivativeInstrumentsAsRecordedInConsolidatedStatementsOfOperationsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Financial Instruments and Derivative Financial Instruments (Pre-tax Impact of Derivative Instruments as Recorded in Consolidated Statements of Operations) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R44.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411405 - Disclosure - Financial Instruments and Derivative Financial Instruments (Narrative) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/FinancialInstrumentsAndDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Financial Instruments and Derivative Financial Instruments (Narrative) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R45.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2412402 - Disclosure - Unconsolidated Subsidiaries (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/UnconsolidatedSubsidiariesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Unconsolidated Subsidiaries (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R46.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2413401 - Disclosure - Contingencies Contingencies (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/ContingenciesContingenciesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Contingencies Contingencies (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R47.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2414402 - Disclosure - Product Warranties (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/ProductWarrantiesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Product Warranties (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R48.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2415402 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/IncomeTaxesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R49.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2416402 - Disclosure - Retirement Benefit Plans (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/RetirementBenefitPlansDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Retirement Benefit Plans (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R50.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2417402 - Disclosure - Business Segments (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.nacco.com/role/BusinessSegmentsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Business Segments (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Info">Element us-gaap_DueFromAffiliates had a mix of decimals attribute values: -5 -3.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '2406402 - Disclosure - Other Events and Transactions (Sales Agreement and Development Activities) (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '2412402 - Disclosure - Unconsolidated Subsidiaries (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1001000 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Mar. 31, 2012'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Dec. 31, 2011'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1001001 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1002000 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of  Operations</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1002001 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of  Operations (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1003000 - Statement - Unaudited Statements of Comprehensive Income Statement</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1003001 - Statement - Unaudited Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1004000 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1005001 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (Parenthetical)</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>nacco-20130331.xml</File>
    <File>nacco-20130331.xsd</File>
    <File>nacco-20130331_cal.xml</File>
    <File>nacco-20130331_def.xml</File>
    <File>nacco-20130331_lab.xml</File>
    <File>nacco-20130331_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
