Business Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 178,007	$ 196,500	$ 351,428	$ 390,234
Operating profit (loss)	5,210	1,288	10,622	4,529
Net income (loss)	3,116	(275)	5,918	752
Operating segments | NACoal
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	23,089	37,942	53,376	79,261
Operating profit (loss)	4,823	2,382	14,565	7,589
Net income (loss)	3,324	4,199	11,577	8,746
Operating segments | HBB
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	127,054	129,498	242,794	252,791
Operating profit (loss)	4,696	2,880	4,763	5,068
Net income (loss)	2,934	1,618	2,673	2,236
Operating segments | KC
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	28,634	29,782	57,017	59,749
Operating profit (loss)	(3,011)	(2,972)	(5,901)	(6,017)
Net income (loss)	(1,954)	(1,847)	(3,822)	(3,740)
Operating segments | NACCO and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit (loss)	(1,297)	(836)	(2,738)	(2,125)
Net income (loss)	(1,118)	(697)	(2,185)	(1,936)
Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(770)	(722)	(1,759)	(1,567)
Operating profit (loss)	(1)	(166)	(67)	14
Net income (loss)	$ (70)	$ (3,548)	$ (2,325)	$ (4,554)