Earnings Per Share (Schedule Of Earnings Per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income (loss) attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders	$ 272,014	$ 74,497	$ 284,313	$ (313,618)
Participating securities’ share in earnings	1,735	275	1,822	647
Net income(loss) attributable to common shares	$ 270,279	$ 74,222	$ 282,491	$ (314,265)
Average number of shares of common stock outstanding	176,149	175,871	176,143	176,157
Effect of dilutive variable restricted shares and performance share units	381	122	473	0
Average number of shares of common stock outstanding assuming dilution	176,530	175,993	176,616	176,157
Basic earnings (loss) per share	$ 1.53	$ 0.42	$ 1.60	$ (1.78)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$ 1.53	$ 0.42	$ 1.60	$ (1.78)
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	104	204	120	188