CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Net sales	$ 1,062,168	$ 1,351,964	$ 1,447,716	$ 1,167,265	$ 1,148,184	$ 1,031,174	$ 1,005,898	$ 894,512	$ 5,029,113	$ 4,079,768	$ 3,136,329
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of product sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	857,277	1,026,040	1,123,375	936,822	983,726	889,850	891,652	802,890	3,943,514	3,568,118	2,547,695
Direct operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	124,796	74,615	66,207	68,434	64,216	52,534	62,479	60,562	334,052	239,791	226,657
Insurance recovery - business interruption		(490)		(2,870)					(3,360)
Selling, general and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	28,973	17,584	18,171	33,262	43,450	16,397	10,793	21,394	97,990	92,034	68,918
Depreciation and amortization	24,242	22,025	22,043	22,011	22,005	21,943	21,553	21,260	90,321	86,761	84,873
Total operating costs and expenses	1,035,288	1,139,774	1,229,796	1,057,659	1,113,397	980,724	986,477	906,106	4,462,517	3,986,704	2,928,143
Operating income	26,880	212,190	217,920	109,606	34,787	50,450	19,421	(11,594)	566,596	93,064	208,186
Other income (expense):
Interest expense and other financing costs	(14,657)	(13,757)	(14,205)	(13,190)	(13,717)	(13,863)	(12,766)	(9,922)	(55,809)	(50,268)	(44,237)
Interest income	(89)	93	211	274	603	549	643	416	489	2,211	1,717
Gain (loss) on derivatives, net	103,179	(9,925)	6,932	(22,106)	(9,320)	(1,014)	7,339	1,490	78,080	(1,505)	(65,286)
Loss on extinguishment of debt			(170)	(1,908)	(1,595)		(14,552)	(500)	(2,078)	(16,647)	(2,101)
Other income, net	124	243	246	231	517	17	642	42	844	1,218	310
Total other income (expense)	88,557	(23,346)	(6,986)	(36,699)	(23,512)	(14,311)	(18,694)	(8,474)	21,526	(64,991)	(109,597)
Income before income taxes	115,437	188,844	210,934	72,907	11,275	36,139	727	(20,068)	588,122	28,073	98,589
Income tax expense	37,103	68,603	76,738	27,119	8,981	12,932	(425)	(7,705)	209,563	13,783	29,235
Net income	78,334	120,241	134,196	45,788	2,294	23,207	1,152	(12,363)	378,559	14,290	69,354
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	12,476	10,976	9,331						32,783
Net income attributable to CVR Energy Stockholders	$ 65,858	$ 109,265	$ 124,865	$ 45,788					$ 345,776	$ 14,290	$ 69,354
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.76	$ 1.26	$ 1.44	$ 0.53	$ 0.03	$ 0.27	$ 0.01	$ (0.14)	$ 4.00	$ 0.17	$ 0.80
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.75	$ 1.25	$ 1.42	$ 0.52	$ 0.03	$ 0.27	$ 0.01	$ (0.14)	$ 3.94	$ 0.16	$ 0.80
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	86,852,800	86,549,846	86,422,881	86,413,781	86,352,627	86,343,102	86,336,125	86,329,237	86,493,735	86,340,342	86,248,205
Diluted (in shares)	87,746,843	87,743,600	87,789,351	87,783,857	87,121,094	87,013,575	86,506,590	86,329,237	87,766,573	86,789,179	86,342,433