Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Feb. 24, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	HEARTLAND EXPRESS, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0000799233
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2022
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2022
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		78,988,359
Unvested, Number of Restricted Stock Awards (in shares)	40,080	33,080		14,000	59,700	52,100
Entity Public Float			$ 0.6
City Area Code	319
Local Phone Number	645-7060
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	NV
Entity File Number	0-15087
Entity Address, Address Line One	901 Heartland Way
Entity Address, City or Town	North Liberty
Entity Address, State or Province	IA
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	52317
Entity Tax Identification Number	93-0926999
Document Transition Report	false
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Trading Symbol	HTLD
Document Annual Report	true
Title of 12(g) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Auditor Firm ID	248
Auditor Name	GRANT THORNTON LLP
Auditor Location	Tulsa, Oklahoma
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of the registrant's definitive proxy statement relating to its 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, where indicated. The registrant's definitive proxy statement will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2022.
Document Financial Statement Error Correction Flag	false