Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jul. 25, 2017
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001108109
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Trading Symbol	CYH
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		114,758,677