Debt (Carrying Amounts Of Long-Term Debt) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	$ 1,346,227	$ 1,214,742
Holly Corporation [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt	471,793	688,882
9.875% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal	286,812	291,812
Unamortized discount	(7,788)	(8,930)
Long-term debt carrying amount	279,024	282,882
6.875% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal	150,000	150,000
Unamortized premium	6,115	6,490
Long-term debt carrying amount	156,115	156,490
8.5% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal	0	199,985
Unamortized premium	0	11,905
Long-term debt carrying amount	0	211,890
Holly Financing Obligation [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Financing obligation	36,654	37,620
HEP [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total HEP long-term debt	874,434	525,860
Total long-term debt	874,434	598,761
HEP [Member] \| Holly Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
HEP Credit Agreement	431,000	200,000
HEP [Member] \| 8.25% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal	150,000	150,000
Unamortized discount	(1,678)	(1,907)
Long-term debt carrying amount	148,322	148,093
HEP [Member] \| 6.5% Senior Notes Due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal	300,000	0
Unamortized discount	(4,888)	0
Long-term debt carrying amount	295,112	0
HEP [Member] \| 6.25% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal	0	185,000
Unamortized discount	0	(8,331)
Unamortized premium	0	1,098
Long-term debt carrying amount	$ 0	$ 177,767

Amount equal to the present value (the principal) at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term (excluding that portion of the payments representing executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor, together with any profit thereon) net of payments or other amounts applied to the principal through the balance sheet date.

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Including current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of long-term borrowings as of the balance sheet date before deducting unamortized discount or premiums (if any). May include notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, which had initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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The amount of debt discount that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

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The amount of debt premium that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

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- Definition

Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date.

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Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all long-term debt, which is debt initially having maturities due after one year from the balance sheet date or beyond the operating cycle, if longer, but excluding the portions thereof scheduled to be repaid within one year (current maturities) or the normal operating cycle, if longer, and after deducting unamortized discount or premiums, if any.

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of debt not otherwise defined (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer), excluding current portion.

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer), excluding current portion. Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.

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