Business Segments (Statements of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 286,519	$ 239,107	$ 196,500	$ 193,734	$ 297,285	$ 221,714	$ 200,370	$ 177,413	$ 915,860	$ 896,782	$ 932,666
Gross profit (loss)	63,711	42,215	35,381	38,189	65,835	46,543	36,523	36,171	179,496	185,072	221,291
Selling, general and administrative expenses, including Amortization of intangible assets									197,912	201,997	202,999
Operating profit	21,538	5,760	1,288	3,241	(73,156)	11,323	(3,891)	(585)	31,827	(66,309)	61,336
Interest expense									6,924	7,566	4,775
Interest income									(474)	(831)	(225)
Other (income) expense, including asset retirement obligations									578	3,529	1,066
Income tax provision (benefit)									2,815	(38,455)	11,270
Net Income (loss)	18,091	3,141	(275)	1,027					21,984	(38,118)	44,450
NACoal
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	26,033	42,704	37,942	41,319	33,210	49,840	49,780	39,872	147,998	172,702	193,651
Gross profit (loss)									(10,816)	(3,139)	25,230
Selling, general and administrative expenses, including Amortization of intangible assets									38,867	36,147	30,786
Operating profit	(3,058)	(4,010)	2,382	5,207	(100,228)	4,362	183	6,653	521	(89,030)	37,461
Interest expense									4,961	6,034	3,105
Interest income									(416)	(823)	(19)
Other (income) expense, including asset retirement obligations									(1,683)	44	(1,013)
Income tax provision (benefit)									(7,960)	(43,308)	3,462
Net Income (loss)	2,218	(5,345)	4,199	4,547	(59,792)	3,185	(75)	5,705	5,619	(50,977)	31,926
HBB
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	204,895	163,291	129,498	123,293	204,818	135,155	118,385	101,325	620,977	559,683	547,790
Gross profit (loss)									123,139	117,570	115,506
Selling, general and administrative expenses, including Amortization of intangible assets									88,336	81,798	74,570
Operating profit	18,090	11,643	2,880	2,188	23,053	9,531	2,251	937	34,801	35,772	40,960
Interest expense									1,831	1,137	1,279
Interest income									(56)	(4)	(1)
Other (income) expense, including asset retirement obligations									1,526	1,136	462
Income tax provision (benefit)									11,751	10,359	14,127
Net Income (loss)	11,135	6,378	1,618	618	15,427	6,008	1,359	350	19,749	23,144	25,093
KC
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	56,531	34,708	29,782	29,967	61,314	37,551	32,804	36,876	150,988	168,545	196,033
Gross profit (loss)									67,000	71,621	80,972
Selling, general and administrative expenses, including Amortization of intangible assets									66,864	79,056	91,878
Operating profit	7,025	(843)	(2,972)	(3,045)	5,123	(1,429)	(4,255)	(6,514)	165	(7,075)	(10,903)
Interest expense									131	367	390
Interest income									0	0	0
Other (income) expense, including asset retirement obligations									86	65	70
Income tax provision (benefit)									368	(2,904)	(4,479)
Net Income (loss)	3,870	(550)	(1,847)	(1,893)	3,053	(966)	(2,657)	(4,033)	(420)	(4,603)	(6,884)
NACCO and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross profit (loss)									(416)	(461)	(469)
Selling, general and administrative expenses, including Amortization of intangible assets									3,845	4,996	5,765
Operating profit	(981)	(1,142)	(836)	(1,289)	(1,027)	(1,073)	(2,004)	(1,352)	(4,248)	(5,456)	(6,233)
Interest expense									1	28	1
Interest income									(2)	(4)	(205)
Other (income) expense, including asset retirement obligations									649	2,284	1,547
Income tax provision (benefit)									(1,550)	(2,420)	(1,858)
Net Income (loss)	(636)	(774)	(697)	(1,239)	(1,568)	(906)	(1,673)	(1,197)	(3,346)	(5,344)	(5,718)
Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(940)	(1,596)	(722)	(845)	(2,057)	(832)	(599)	(660)	(4,103)	(4,148)	(4,808)
Gross profit (loss)									589	(519)	52
Operating profit	462	112	(166)	180	(77)	(68)	(66)	(309)	588	(520)	51
Income tax provision (benefit)									206	(182)	18
Net Income (loss)	$ 1,504	$ 3,432	$ (3,548)	$ (1,006)	$ 2,211	$ 378	$ (578)	$ (2,349)	$ 382	$ (338)	$ 33