Consolidated Statements Of Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales and other revenues	$ 5,204,798	$ 5,173,398	$ 14,943,217	$ 10,467,116
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	3,898,736	3,989,927	11,767,417	8,421,639
Operating expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	233,859	227,883	698,212	501,971
General and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	28,787	43,141	88,421	78,641
Depreciation and amortization	65,112	43,240	178,162	106,380
Total operating costs and expenses	4,226,494	4,304,191	12,732,212	9,108,631
Income from operations	978,304	869,207	2,211,005	1,358,485
Other income (expense):
Earnings of equity method investments	852	532	2,455	1,739
Interest income	2,219	204	3,360	946
Interest expense	(21,103)	(25,074)	(81,360)	(56,471)
Gain on sale of marketable equity securities	0	0	326	0
Merger transaction costs	0	(9,100)	0	(15,114)
Other income (expense) total	(18,032)	(33,438)	(75,219)	(68,900)
Income before income taxes	960,272	835,769	2,135,786	1,289,585
Income tax provision:
Current	324,211	296,670	753,018	461,210
Deferred	25,411	8,088	22,728	4,520
Income tax provision total	349,622	304,758	775,746	465,730
Net income	610,650	531,011	1,360,040	823,855
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	10,277	7,923	24,472	23,838
Net income attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders	$ 600,373	$ 523,088	$ 1,335,568	$ 800,017
Earnings per share attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders:
Basic	$ 2.95	$ 2.50	$ 6.46	$ 5.66
Diluted	$ 2.94	$ 2.48	$ 6.44	$ 5.63
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 1.15	$ 0.59	$ 2.40	$ 0.74
Average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic	203,557	209,583	206,657	141,353
Diluted	204,434	210,579	207,546	142,092