Resource Management, Acquisitions and Other Commercial Events	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Resource Management, Acquisitions and Other Commercial Events [Abstract]
Resource Management, Acquisitions and Other Commercial Events	Resource Management, Acquisitions and Other Commercial Events Organizational Realignment From time to time, the Company initiates restructuring activities in connection with its repositioning efforts to appropriately align its cost structure or optimize its coal production relative to prevailing global coal industry conditions. Costs associated with restructuring actions can include early mine closures, voluntary and involuntary workforce reductions, office closures and other related activities. Costs associated with restructuring activities are recognized in the period incurred. In 2016, the Company has continued to drive operational efficiencies, optimize production across its mining platform and control operational and administrative expenses. Included in the Company's consolidated statement of operations were aggregate restructuring charges, primarily comprised of cash severance costs, of $15.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. These costs were primarily incurred in the first half of 2016. Divestitures On January 30, 2017, the Bankruptcy Court issued an order authorizing certain subsidiaries of the Company to enter into a stalking horse purchase agreement and approved bidding procedures for the sale of its 37.5% interest in Dominion Terminal Associates, a partnership that operates a coal export terminal in Newport News, Virginia. Pursuant to that order, the deadline to submit qualified bids for the purchase of this interest was set for March 2, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. (Central) and the related auction was scheduled to begin on March 6, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. (Central). On February 10, 2017, Contura Terminal and Ashland Terminal, Inc., both of which are partners of the Dominion Terminal Associates partnership, filed an appeal of the January 30, 2017 order. On March 6, 2017, the Company held the auction relating to the sale of this interest. At the auction, Contura Terminal, LLC and Ashland Terminal, Inc., who bid at the auction together, were declared the successful bidder. On March 7, 2017, the Company filed a notice with the Bankruptcy Court indicating the identity of the successful bidder. On March 9, 2017, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order approving the sale of the Company's interest in Dominion Terminal Associates to Contura Terminal, LLC and Ashland Terminal, Inc. On March 14, 2017, the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Eighth Circuit entered an order dismissing the appeal of Contura Terminal, LLC and Ashland Terminal, Inc. to the Bankruptcy Court's January 26, 2017 order. The sale of the Company's interest in Dominion Terminal Associates is expected to close prior to the Plan Effective Date. On November 3, 2016, Peabody Australia Mining Pty Ltd, one of the Company’s Australian subsidiaries, entered into a definitive share sale and purchase agreement for the sale of all of its equity interest in Metropolitan Collieries Pty Ltd, the entity that owns the Metropolitan mine in New South Wales, Australia and the associated interest in the Port Kembla Coal Terminal, to a subsidiary of South32 Limited (South32), which is conditional on receipt of approval from the ACCC. Refer to Note 4. "Asset Impairment" for additional details related to the transaction. In May 2016, the Company completed the sale of its 5.06% participation interest in the Prairie State Energy Campus to the Wabash Valley Power Association for $57.1 million. The Company recognized a gain on sale of $6.2 million related to the transaction, which was classified in "Net gain on disposal of assets" in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2016. In May 2016, the Company entered into sale and purchase agreements with Australia-based Pembroke Resources to sell its interest in undeveloped metallurgical reserve tenements in Queensland's Bowen Basin for $64.1 million in cash plus a royalty stream. The transaction included Olive Downs South, Olive Downs South Extended and Willunga tenements. The Company recognized a gain on sale of $2.8 million related to the transaction, which was classified in "Net gain on disposal of assets" in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2016. In November 2015, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to sell its New Mexico and Colorado assets to a subsidiary of Bowie Resource Partners, LLC (Bowie) in exchange for cash proceeds of $358 million and the assumption of certain liabilities. Bowie agreed to pay the Company a termination fee of $20 million (Termination Fee) in the event the Company terminated the agreement because Bowie failed to obtain financing and close the transaction. On April 12, 2016, Peabody terminated the agreement and demanded payment of the Termination Fee, which Bowie has not done. The Company brought action against Bowie to recover the Termination Fee, interest and certain costs. On February 7, 2017, the United States Bankruptcy Court issued a memorandum opinion stating that it would grant summary judgment in favor of the Company and award it the Termination Fee, interest and attorney’s fees and costs incurred in collecting the Termination Fee. On March 9, 2017, after a hearing on the attorneys’ fees and costs that the Company incurred in collecting the Termination Fee, the United States Bankruptcy Court entered judgment in favor of the Company. The Company will not record income related to this judgment until collection from Bowie. The Company initiated a review of its asset portfolio during the second quarter of 2015. In connection with that review and related marketing and divestiture approval processes conducted during that period, certain assets were classified as held-for-sale. Subsequent to the related write-downs, these assets had an aggregate carrying value of approximately $125 million and were included in "Other current assets" in the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015. The results of operations and cash flows of such assets were not material to the consolidated financial statements for the periods presented in this report. In December 2014, the Company sold non-strategic coal reserves located in Kentucky in exchange for cash proceeds of $29.6 million. The Company recognized a gain on sale of $13.6 million related to the transaction, which was classified in "Net gain on disposal of assets" in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2014. In January 2014, the Company sold a non-strategic exploration tenement asset in Australia in exchange for cash proceeds of $62.6 million. The Company had previously recorded an impairment charge in December 2013 to write down the carrying value of that asset to its fair value. Accordingly, there was no gain or loss recognized on the disposal during the year ended December 31, 2014. Joint Venture In 2014, the Company agreed to establish an unincorporated joint venture project with Glencore plc (Glencore), in which each party will hold a 50% interest, to combine the existing operations of the Company's Wambo Open-Cut Mine in Australia with the adjacent coal reserves of Glencore's United Mine. The Company expects the project to result in several operation synergies, including improved mining productivity, lower per-unit operating costs and an extended mine life. The joint venture operations are expected to commence in 2018, subject to substantive contingencies, including the requisite regulatory and permitting approvals. At such time as those contingencies have been resolved or are no longer considered to be substantive, the Company will account for its beneficial interest in the combined operations at fair value. Customer Contract Amendment During the second quarter of 2016, the Company amended its arrangements concerning its long-term supply contract with the largest customer of its Australian Thermal Mining segment as a result of the Debtors' Bankruptcy Petitions. Coal under the supply contract is sourced from the Company's Wilpinjong Mine. The Bankruptcy Petitions enabled the customer to exercise their contractual step-in rights to appoint a receiver to operate the mine within the parameters of the agreement; however, the customer has not exercised this right. Under the new arrangements, the Company's subsidiary agreed to post cash collateral of $50.0 million Australian dollars, all of which was posted and is included in "Investments and other assets" in the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2016. The subsidiary also agreed to maintain compliance with additional covenants and restrictions, including achieving minimum quarterly cash flow and production volumes in relation to specific forecasted amounts. If these conditions are met, the customer will not exercise their step-in rights to appoint a receiver. The arrangements provide for remedial action where certain covenants are not met; but noncompliance could result in termination of the amended arrangements and enable the customer to exercise step-in rights to appoint a receiver to operate the Wilpinjong Mine. As of March 20, 2017, the Company was in compliance with the covenants and restrictions under the new arrangements.

Resource Management, Acquisitions and Other Commercial Events

Organizational Realignment

From time to time, the Company initiates restructuring activities in connection with its repositioning efforts to appropriately align its cost structure or optimize its coal production relative to prevailing global coal industry conditions. Costs associated with restructuring actions can include early mine closures, voluntary and involuntary workforce reductions, office closures and other related activities. Costs associated with restructuring activities are recognized in the period incurred.

In 2016, the Company has continued to drive operational efficiencies, optimize production across its mining platform and control operational and administrative expenses. Included in the Company's consolidated statement of operations were aggregate restructuring charges, primarily comprised of cash severance costs, of $15.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. These costs were primarily incurred in the first half of 2016.

Divestitures

On January 30, 2017, the Bankruptcy Court issued an order authorizing certain subsidiaries of the Company to enter into a stalking horse purchase agreement and approved bidding procedures for the sale of its 37.5% interest in Dominion Terminal Associates, a partnership that operates a coal export terminal in Newport News, Virginia. Pursuant to that order, the deadline to submit qualified bids for the purchase of this interest was set for March 2, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. (Central) and the related auction was scheduled to begin on March 6, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. (Central). On February 10, 2017, Contura Terminal and Ashland Terminal, Inc., both of which are partners of the Dominion Terminal Associates partnership, filed an appeal of the January 30, 2017 order. On March 6, 2017, the Company held the auction relating to the sale of this interest. At the auction, Contura Terminal, LLC and Ashland Terminal, Inc., who bid at the auction together, were declared the successful bidder. On March 7, 2017, the Company filed a notice with the Bankruptcy Court indicating the identity of the successful bidder. On March 9, 2017, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order approving the sale of the Company's interest in Dominion Terminal Associates to Contura Terminal, LLC and Ashland Terminal, Inc. On March 14, 2017, the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Eighth Circuit entered an order dismissing the appeal of Contura Terminal, LLC and Ashland Terminal, Inc. to the Bankruptcy Court's January 26, 2017 order. The sale of the Company's interest in Dominion Terminal Associates is expected to close prior to the Plan Effective Date.

On November 3, 2016, Peabody Australia Mining Pty Ltd, one of the Company’s Australian subsidiaries, entered into a definitive share sale and purchase agreement for the sale of all of its equity interest in Metropolitan Collieries Pty Ltd, the entity that owns the Metropolitan mine in New South Wales, Australia and the associated interest in the Port Kembla Coal Terminal, to a subsidiary of South32 Limited (South32), which is conditional on receipt of approval from the ACCC. Refer to Note 4. "Asset Impairment" for additional details related to the transaction.

In May 2016, the Company completed the sale of its 5.06% participation interest in the Prairie State Energy Campus to the Wabash Valley Power Association for $57.1 million. The Company recognized a gain on sale of $6.2 million related to the transaction, which was classified in "Net gain on disposal of assets" in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2016.

In May 2016, the Company entered into sale and purchase agreements with Australia-based Pembroke Resources to sell its interest in undeveloped metallurgical reserve tenements in Queensland's Bowen Basin for $64.1 million in cash plus a royalty stream. The transaction included Olive Downs South, Olive Downs South Extended and Willunga tenements. The Company recognized a gain on sale of $2.8 million related to the transaction, which was classified in "Net gain on disposal of assets" in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2016.

In November 2015, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to sell its New Mexico and Colorado assets to a subsidiary of Bowie Resource Partners, LLC (Bowie) in exchange for cash proceeds of $358 million and the assumption of certain liabilities. Bowie agreed to pay the Company a termination fee of $20 million (Termination Fee) in the event the Company terminated the agreement because Bowie failed to obtain financing and close the transaction. On April 12, 2016, Peabody terminated the agreement and demanded payment of the Termination Fee, which Bowie has not done. The Company brought action against Bowie to recover the Termination Fee, interest and certain costs. On February 7, 2017, the United States Bankruptcy Court issued a memorandum opinion stating that it would grant summary judgment in favor of the Company and award it the Termination Fee, interest and attorney’s fees and costs incurred in collecting the Termination Fee. On March 9, 2017, after a hearing on the attorneys’ fees and costs that the Company incurred in collecting the Termination Fee, the United States Bankruptcy Court entered judgment in favor of the Company. The Company will not record income related to this judgment until collection from Bowie.

The Company initiated a review of its asset portfolio during the second quarter of 2015. In connection with that review and related marketing and divestiture approval processes conducted during that period, certain assets were classified as held-for-sale. Subsequent to the related write-downs, these assets had an aggregate carrying value of approximately $125 million and were included in "Other current assets" in the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015. The results of operations and cash flows of such assets were not material to the consolidated financial statements for the periods presented in this report.

In December 2014, the Company sold non-strategic coal reserves located in Kentucky in exchange for cash proceeds of $29.6 million. The Company recognized a gain on sale of $13.6 million related to the transaction, which was classified in "Net gain on disposal of assets" in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2014.

In January 2014, the Company sold a non-strategic exploration tenement asset in Australia in exchange for cash proceeds of $62.6 million. The Company had previously recorded an impairment charge in December 2013 to write down the carrying value of that asset to its fair value. Accordingly, there was no gain or loss recognized on the disposal during the year ended December 31, 2014.

Joint Venture

In 2014, the Company agreed to establish an unincorporated joint venture project with Glencore plc (Glencore), in which each party will hold a 50% interest, to combine the existing operations of the Company's Wambo Open-Cut Mine in Australia with the adjacent coal reserves of Glencore's United Mine. The Company expects the project to result in several operation synergies, including improved mining productivity, lower per-unit operating costs and an extended mine life. The joint venture operations are expected to commence in 2018, subject to substantive contingencies, including the requisite regulatory and permitting approvals. At such time as those contingencies have been resolved or are no longer considered to be substantive, the Company will account for its beneficial interest in the combined operations at fair value.

Customer Contract Amendment

During the second quarter of 2016, the Company amended its arrangements concerning its long-term supply contract with the largest customer of its Australian Thermal Mining segment as a result of the Debtors' Bankruptcy Petitions. Coal under the supply contract is sourced from the Company's Wilpinjong Mine. The Bankruptcy Petitions enabled the customer to exercise their contractual step-in rights to appoint a receiver to operate the mine within the parameters of the agreement; however, the customer has not exercised this right. Under the new arrangements, the Company's subsidiary agreed to post cash collateral of $50.0 million Australian dollars, all of which was posted and is included in "Investments and other assets" in the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2016. The subsidiary also agreed to maintain compliance with additional covenants and restrictions, including achieving minimum quarterly cash flow and production volumes in relation to specific forecasted amounts. If these conditions are met, the customer will not exercise their step-in rights to appoint a receiver. The arrangements provide for remedial action where certain covenants are not met; but noncompliance could result in termination of the amended arrangements and enable the customer to exercise step-in rights to appoint a receiver to operate the Wilpinjong Mine. As of March 20, 2017, the Company was in compliance with the covenants and restrictions under the new arrangements.