Supplemental Guarantor/Non-Guarantor Financial Information Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Parent [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Parent [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Non Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Non Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Holly Frontier Corp. Before Consolidation Of HEP [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Holly Frontier Corp. Before Consolidation Of HEP [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Non-Guarantor Non-Restricted Subsidiaries (HEP Segment) [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Non-Guarantor Non-Restricted Subsidiaries (HEP Segment) [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Eliminations [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Eliminations [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 HEP [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 HEP [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 HEP [Member] Parent [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 HEP [Member] Parent [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 HEP [Member] Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 HEP [Member] Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 HEP [Member] Non Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 HEP [Member] Non Guarantor Restricted Subsidiaries [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 HEP [Member] Holly Frontier Corp. Before Consolidation Of HEP [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 HEP [Member] Holly Frontier Corp. Before Consolidation Of HEP [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 HEP [Member] Non-Guarantor Non-Restricted Subsidiaries (HEP Segment) [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 HEP [Member] Non-Guarantor Non-Restricted Subsidiaries (HEP Segment) [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 HEP [Member] Eliminations [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 HEP [Member] Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash flows from operating activities	$ 1,171,788	$ 1,089,203	$ 1,260,731	$ 1,690,926	$ (142,743)	$ (664,988)	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1,117,988	$ 1,025,938	$ 100,652	$ 93,299	$ (46,852)	$ (30,034)
Additions to properties, plants and equipment	(178,235)	(98,428)	(4,993)	(6,056)	(173,242)	(92,372)	0	0	(178,235)	(98,428)	0	0	0	0	(29,302)	(175,795)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(29,302)	(175,795)	0	0
Investment in Sabine Biofuels	(2,000)	(9,125)	0	(9,125)	(2,000)	0	0	0	(2,000)	(9,125)	0	0	0	0
Cash Acquired from Acquisition	0	872,158		182		871,976		0		872,158		0		0
Purchases of marketable securities	(236,315)	(370,042)	(236,315)	(370,042)	0	0	0	0	(236,315)	(370,042)	0	0	0	0
Sales and maturities of marketable securities	212,216	194,386	211,286	194,386	930	0	0	0	212,216	194,386	0	0	0	0
Net cash used for investing activities	(233,636)	413,154	(30,022)	(190,655)	(174,312)	779,604	0	0	(204,334)	588,949	(29,302)	(175,795)	0	0
Net borrowings under credit agreement – HEP																43,000		0		0		0		0		43,000		0
Net repayments under credit agreement – HEP															231,000		0		0		0		0		231,000		0
Repayment of promissory notes	0		0		72,900		0		72,900		(72,900)		0
Net proceeds from issuance of senior notes - HEP															294,750	0	0		0		0		0		294,750		0
Principal tender on senior notes - HEP	(205,000)		(205,000)		0		0		(205,000)		0		0		(185,000)	(15)	0	(15)	0	0	0	0	0	(15)	(185,000)	0	0	0
Contribution to HEP																0		0		(96,000)		0		(96,000)		96,000		0
Purchase of treasury stock	(190,307)	(38,955)	(190,307)	(38,955)	0	0	0	0	(190,307)	(38,955)	0	0	0	0
Structured stock repurchase arrangement	8,620	0	8,620		0		0		8,620		0		0
Contribution from joint venture partner	6,000	27,500	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6,000	27,500	0	0
Contribution from General Partner	0		0		(10,286)		0		(10,286)		10,286		0
Distribution from HEP upon UNEV Transaction	0		0		260,922		0		260,922		(260,922)		0
Dividends	(382,610)	(129,377)	(382,610)	(129,377)	0	0	0	0	(382,610)	(129,377)	0	0	0	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interest			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0					(43,749)	(37,929)									(91,063)	(67,963)	47,314	30,034
Excess tax benefit from equity based compensation	16,021	1,399	16,021	1,399	0	0	0	0	16,021	1,399	0	0	0	0
Purchase of units for restricted grants - HEP															(4,919)	(1,641)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(4,919)	(1,641)	0	0
Deferred financing costs	(3,289)	(11,724)	0	(8,574)	(67)	0	0	0	(67)	(8,574)	(3,222)	(3,150)	0	0
Other	(1,165)	(857)	0	0	(967)	(857)	0	0	(967)	(857)	264	0	(462)	0
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(459,648)	(148,599)	(753,276)	(175,522)	322,502	(96,857)	0	0	(430,774)	(272,379)	(75,726)	93,746	46,852	30,034
Increase (decrease) for the period	478,504	1,353,758	477,433	1,324,749	5,447	17,759	0	0	482,880	1,342,508	(4,376)	11,250	0	0
Beginning of period	1,578,904	229,101	1,575,891	230,082	(3,358)	(9,035)	2	2	1,572,535	221,049	6,369	8,052	0	0	6,369
End of period	$ 2,057,408	$ 1,582,859	$ 2,053,324	$ 1,554,831	$ 2,089	$ 8,724	$ 2	$ 2	$ 2,055,415	$ 1,563,557	$ 1,993	$ 19,302	$ 0	$ 0	$ 1,993