Operating Units Energy Segment (Details) ft³ / d in Millions, bbl in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 ft² ft³ / d bbl / d T / d miles bbl
CVR Refining, LP [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage of equity ownership in subsidiary	3.90%
CVR Refining, LP [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage of equity ownership in subsidiary	66.00%
CVR Partners, LP [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage of equity ownership in subsidiary	34.00%
CVR Energy, Inc. [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage of equity ownership in subsidiary	82.00%
Crude oil gathering [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Barrels per day | bbl / d	65,000
Pipeline transportation of oil [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Barrels per day | bbl / d	170,000
Crude oil pipeline length (in miles) | miles	340
Production barrels of oil storage capacity | bbl	6.4
Production barrels of oil combined refinery related storage capacity | bbl	4.5
Coffeyville, Kansas [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Area of land (acres) | ft²	440
Coffeyville, Kansas [Member] | Petroleum [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Barrels per day | bbl / d	115,000
Coffeyville, Kansas [Member] | Nitrogen Fertilizer [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ton-per-day ammonia unit facility | T / d	1,300
Ton-per-day of Urea and Ammonium Nitrate unit facility | T / d	3,000
Cubic feet of hydrogen per day gasifiation complex | ft³ / d	89
Wynnewood, Oklahoma [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Area of land (acres) | ft²	400
Wynnewood, Oklahoma [Member] | Petroleum [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Barrels per day | bbl / d	70,000
East Dubuque [Member] | Nitrogen Fertilizer [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ton-per-day ammonia unit facility | T / d	1,025
Ton-per-day of Urea and Ammonium Nitrate unit facility | T / d	1,100