Other Events and Transactions (Discontinued Operation Results) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Income tax expense		$ 2,162	$ 14,512	$ 12,325
Income from discontinued operations		1,874	26,651	19,711
HBBHC | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Means Other than Sale, Spinoff
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenues		474,971	745,357	767,862
Cost of goods sold		353,436	551,586	577,134
Gross profit		121,535	193,771	190,728
Operating expenses		114,379	150,397	155,174
Operating profit		7,156	43,374	35,554
Interest expense		1,300	1,374	1,962
Other expense, net		(939)	837	1,556
Income before income taxes		6,795	41,163	32,036
Income tax expense		2,655	14,984	12,325
HBBHC net income		4,140	26,179	19,711
NACCO expenses related to the spin-off		2,759	0	0
NACCO discontinued operations income tax expense (benefit) adjustments		$ (493)	$ (472)	$ 0
Spinoff | HBBHC
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Expenses related to the spin-off	$ 2,500