Property, Plant and Equipment, Net (Details) $ in Thousands, T in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) T	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) T	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	$ 262,661	$ 282,303
Less allowances for depreciation, depletion and amortization	130,122	122,659
Property, plant and equipment, net	132,539	159,644
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	$ 19,700	$ 24,800	$ 20,900
Proved and probable reserves (tons) | T	1.0	1.0
Coal Lands and Real Estate
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	$ 55,623	$ 54,923
Plant and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	207,038	227,380
NACoal | Coal Lands and Real Estate
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	54,928	54,228
NACoal | Plant and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	126,939	146,994
HBB | Coal Lands and Real Estate
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	226	226
HBB | Plant and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	49,002	49,579
NACCO and Other | Coal Lands and Real Estate
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	469	469
NACCO and Other | Plant and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	4,978	4,655
KC | Plant and Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	$ 26,119	$ 26,152