Document and Entity Information Document	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 shares
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	PEABODY ENERGY CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0001064728
Document Type	10-Q/A
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2017
Amendment Flag	true
Amendment Description	prior period correction
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	18,500,000