Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ 881,242	$ (190,945)	$ 802,508
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment	22,151	0	0
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	(4)	81	29
Reclassification adjustment to net income on sale or maturity of marketable securities	0	23	9
Net unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities	(4)	104	38
Change in fair value of cash flow hedging instruments	2,919	(17,625)	(5,847)
Reclassification adjustments to net income on settlement of cash flow hedging instruments	10,448	41,585	(47,492)
Amortization of unrealized loss attributable to discontinued cash flow hedges	1,080	1,080	1,080
Net unrealized gain (loss) on hedging instruments	14,447	25,040	(52,259)
Unrealized loss on pension liability	(1,162)	0	0
Unrealized gain (loss) on post-retirement healthcare plans	(1,058)	2,363	3,278
Post-retirement healthcare plan loss reclassified to net income	(3,481)	(3,482)	(3,299)
Unrealized gain (loss) on retirement restoration plan	(123)	(9)	80
Retirement restoration loss reclassified to net income	17	15	20
Net change in other post-retirement benefit obligations	(5,807)	(1,113)	79
Other comprehensive income (loss) before income taxes	30,787	24,031	(52,142)
Income tax expense (benefit)	11,349	9,322	(20,237)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	19,438	14,709	(31,905)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	900,680	(176,236)	770,603
Less noncontrolling interest in comprehensive income (loss)	75,790	69,450	62,551
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to HollyFrontier stockholders	$ 824,890	$ (245,686)	$ 708,052