Debt (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended									1 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 9.875% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 9.875% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 6.875% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 6.875% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 8.5% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 8.5% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Holly Frontier Credit Agreement [Member]	Nov. 30, 2009 Plains [Member] Lease [Member] Y	Mar. 31, 2012 HEP [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 HEP [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 HEP [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 HEP [Member] 6.25% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 HEP [Member] 6.25% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 HEP [Member] 8.25% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 HEP [Member] 8.25% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 HEP [Member] 6.5% Senior Notes Due 2020 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 HEP [Member] 6.5% Senior Notes Due 2020 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 HEP [Member] Holly Credit Agreement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 HEP [Member] Holly Credit Agreement [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 HEP [Member] Letter of Credit [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 HEP [Member] Distributions To Unit Holder [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 HEP [Member] HEP Credit Agreement [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 HEP [Member] HEP Previous Credit Agreement [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Repayment of Debt [Member] HEP [Member] 6.25% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity under revolving credit agreement											$ 1,000,000,000													$ 50,000,000	$ 60,000,000	$ 550,000,000	$ 375,000,000
Borrowings outstanding under revolving credit agreement											27,900,000											170,000,000	200,000,000			170,000,000
Unused portion of the credit agreement											972,100,000
Stated interest rate, senior notes					9.875%		6.875%		8.50%							6.25%		8.25%		6.50%
Senior notes, called for redemption																												27,300,000
Repayments of promissory notes			0										72,900,000
Net proceeds from issuance of senior notes - HEP													294,800,000	294,750,000	0
Principal tender on senior notes			(5,000,000)	0									157,800,000	(185,000,000)	0
Senior notes					286,812,000	291,812,000	150,000,000	150,000,000	199,985,000	199,985,000						0	185,000,000	150,000,000	150,000,000	300,000,000	0
Proceeds from sale of storage assets												40,000,000
Term of lease, years												15
Capitalized interest attributable to construction projects	$ 2,300,000	$ 4,300,000	$ 3,900,000	$ 7,900,000