Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Amounts Reclassified to Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Reclassified to Income Statement [Line Items]
Income tax provision									$ 406,060	$ 141,172	$ 391,576
Net income									(802,508)	(326,328)	(767,823)
Revenues	$ (2,943,559)	$ (3,585,823)	$ (3,701,912)	$ (3,006,626)	$ (4,283,119)	$ (5,317,555)	$ (5,372,600)	$ (4,791,053)	(13,237,920)	(19,764,327)	(20,160,560)
Operating expenses									(1,060,373)	(1,144,940)	(1,090,850)
General and Administrative Expense									(120,846)	(114,609)	(127,963)
Interest Expense									(43,470)	(43,646)	(68,050)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest										0
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest									62,407	45,036	31,981
Net income attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders	$ 43,921	$ (196,322)	$ (360,824)	$ (226,876)	$ 222,204	$ (175,006)	$ (176,429)	$ (152,061)	(740,101)	(281,292)	(735,842)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Reclassified to Income Statement [Line Items]
Reclassifications from Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) to Income Statement									31,235	33,296	(11,811)
Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Reclassified to Income Statement [Line Items]
Interest Income									(51)	4	39
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Gains									42	0	0
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Securities, Net									(9)	4	39
Income tax provision									(3)	2	15
Net income									(6)	2	24
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Reclassified to Income Statement [Line Items]
Income tax provision									18,454	19,712	5,554
Net income									27,958	29,890	7,015
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest									46,412	49,602	12,569
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest									1,273	1,335	1,783
Net income attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders									29,231	31,225	8,798
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Commodity Contract [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Reclassified to Income Statement [Line Items]
Revenues									245,819	88,326	(20,060)
Cost of Goods Sold									(179,700)	(37,313)	38,949
Operating expenses									(17,607)	791	(3,379)
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Reclassified to Income Statement [Line Items]
Interest Expense									(2,100)	(2,202)	(2,941)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] | Other Pension Plan, Postretirement or Supplemental Plans [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Reclassified to Income Statement [Line Items]
Income tax provision									1,277	1,663	1,563
Net income									2,022	2,633	2,477
Cost of Goods Sold									271	482	646
Operating expenses									2,681	3,366	2,868
Interest Expense									347	448	526
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest									3,299	4,296	4,040
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] | Pension Plan [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Reclassified to Income Statement [Line Items]
Income tax provision									0	0	(14,547)
Net income									0	0	(23,042)
Cost of Goods Sold									0	0	(3,226)
Operating expenses									0	0	(30,127)
Interest Expense									0	0	(4,236)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest									0		(37,589)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member] | Other Pension Plan [Member] | Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Reclassified to Income Statement [Line Items]
Income tax provision									(8)	(356)	(43)
Net income									(12)	(564)	(68)
General and Administrative Expense									$ (20)	$ (920)	$ (111)