Share-Based Compensation (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended										12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 Distribution First Modified Options Sunoco Employees	Dec. 31, 2012 Distribution First Modified Options Sunoco Employees	Mar. 31, 2012 Distribution Second Modified Options	Dec. 31, 2013 Distribution Second Modified Options	Jul. 13, 2011 SunCoke LTPEP	Dec. 31, 2013 Stock Options installment	Dec. 31, 2012 Stock Options installment	Dec. 31, 2011 Stock Options installment	Dec. 31, 2011 Stock Options Distribution First	Dec. 31, 2013 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) installment	Dec. 31, 2013 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)	Dec. 31, 2012 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) installment	Dec. 31, 2011 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)	Dec. 31, 2011 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) Distribution Second	Dec. 31, 2013 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) Distribution Second Modified Units	Dec. 31, 2013 Performance Share Units	Dec. 31, 2012 Performance Share Units	Dec. 31, 2013 Performance Share Units Minimum	Dec. 31, 2013 Performance Share Units Maximum
Share-based compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Common stock issuable (in shares)					1,600,000
Common stock issuable pursuant to new awards (in shares)					6,000,000
Granted stock options (in shares)						446,948	486,182	1,533,312	1,348,608
Stock option time until expiration (in years)	10 years			10 years		10 years	10 years	10 years
Granted						$ 16.55	$ 14.29	$ 17.25
Number of annual installment in which stock option exercisable						3	3	3		3	3	4	3
Period from grant date for annual installment (in years)						1 year	1 year			1 year	1 year	1 year
Number of options issued (in shares)								184,704
Weighted-average fair value stock option (in dollars per share)						$ 6.00	$ 5.70	$ 6.93
Forfeiture rate (as a percent)						3.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised	$ 887,665	$ 2,572,628		$ 100,000.0		$ 100,000
Compensation expense						4,600,000	3,800,000	1,400,000			2,500,000	1,500,000	700,000			500,000
Compensation expense, net of tax						2,900,000	2,300,000	900,000			1,600,000	900,000	400,000			300,000
Unrecognized compensation cost						4,900,000				5,600,000	5,600,000					1,300,000
Unrecognized compensation cost, period for recognition (in years)						1 year 4 months 24 days				2 years	2 years					2 years
Non-option award units (in shares)										293,918	293,918	83,082	288,898			96,073
Weighted average grant-date fair value, non-option award units (in dollars per share)											$ 16.58	$ 14.29	$ 17.19			$ 19.56
Restricted stock units expected to vest (in shares)														146,545
RSU award vest, percentage													50.00%
RSU award vest, remaining percentage													50.00%
Restricted stock units issued (in shares)													112,941
Restricted stock units issued that vest one year from the date of grant (in shares)													29,412
Total fair value of non-option award units vested											1,300,000	800,000	0
Percentage of award determined by the Company's three year TSR (as a percent)																50.00%
Percentage of award determined by pre-tax return on capital (as a percent)																50.00%
Percentage adjustment of award determined by pre-tax return on capital (as a percent)																		0.00%	200.00%
Non-option award units outstanding (in shares)										501,801	501,801	298,700				96,073	0
Weighted average remaining contractual term (in years)				4 years 8 months 12 days		8 years	8 years 8 months 12 days
Modified options granted Sonoco employees (in shares)	1,219,842
Options outstanding (in shares)	212,296					2,287,252	1,882,864
Stock option range lower (in dollars per share)	$ 4.77			$ 8.93
Stock option range upper (in dollars per share)	$ 29.35			$ 22.31
Weighted average remaining life (in years)	3 years 3 months 18 days
Aggregate intrinsic value	800,000					6,000,000
Stock option exercised (in shares)	(167,762)	(463,699)		(13,577)		(14,813)
Stock option canceled (in shares)	(361,604)	(14,481)
Modified options granted to SunCoke employees (in shares)				295,854
Number of stock options which are fully vested and exercisable ( in shares)				282,277		1,243,129
Weighted average remaining contractual term aggregate intrinsic value				2,400,000
Anti-dilution provision			$ 500,000
Sonoco units converted to SunCoke units (in shares)															95,984