Debt Instrument, Conditional Maturity Date

Name:	hoc_DebtInstrumentConditionalMaturityDate
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Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt instruments maturity date

+ Details

Name:	hoc_DebtInstrumentsMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	hoc
Data Type:	us-types:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for the line of credit facility regardless of whether the facility has been used.

+ Details

Name:	hoc_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	hoc
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage points (also referred to as 'margin') added to the reference rate as stated in the loan agreement and used to compute the variable rate on the loans receivable. For instance, the loan agreement might state that the interest rate the borrower is obligated to pay is the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus three quarters (3/4) of a percentage point adjusted quarterly (each three months). LIBOR in this example is the index or reference rate, 3/4 percentage point is the margin, the reference rate plus the margin is the fully indexed rate. This element would be used to report separately the margin.

+ Details

Name:	hoc_LoansReceivableBasisSpreadOnVariableRate
Namespace Prefix:	hoc
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of barrels

+ Details

Name:	hoc_NumberOfBarrels
Namespace Prefix:	hoc
Data Type:	us-types:volumeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Term of Lease

+ Details

Name:	hoc_TermOfLease
Namespace Prefix:	hoc
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of unused borrowing capacity under the long-term financing arrangement that is available to the entity as of the balance-sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Subparagraph b

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnusedBorrowingCapacityAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of interest that was capitalized during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 34

-Paragraph 21

-Subparagraph b

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestCostsCapitalized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAmountOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Average amount borrowed under the credit facility during the period.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAverageOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash inflow from sale of machinery and equipment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 15

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 16

-Subparagraph c

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SeniorLongTermNotes
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Debt (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended						9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
Debt (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 Minimum [Member] Option A [Member] Holly Frontier Credit Agreement [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Minimum [Member] Option B [Member] Holly Frontier Credit Agreement [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Minimum [Member] Holly Frontier Credit Agreement [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Maximum [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Maximum [Member] Option A [Member] Holly Frontier Credit Agreement [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Maximum [Member] Option B [Member] Holly Frontier Credit Agreement [Member]	Mar. 31, 2010 HEP [Member] bbl	Sep. 30, 2011 HEP [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 HEP [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 HEP [Member] 6.25% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 HEP [Member] 8.25% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 HEP [Member] HEP Credit Agreement [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 HEP [Member] HEP Previous Credit Agreement [Member]	Oct. 31, 2009 Plains [Member] Lease [Member] bbl years	Sep. 30, 2011 9.875% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 9.875% Senior Notes Due 2017 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 6.25% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 6.25% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 8.25% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 8.25% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 6.875% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 6.875% Senior Notes Due 2018 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 8.5% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 8.5% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Holly Credit Agreement [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Holly Credit Agreement [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Frontier Credit Facility [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Holly Frontier Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity under revolving credit agreement																$ 275,000,000	$ 300,000,000												$ 1,000,000,000	$ 400,000,000	$ 500,000,000
Borrowings outstanding under revolving credit agreement												202,000,000	159,000,000																160,600,000
Unused portion of the credit agreement																																839,400,000
Debt instrument expiration date														March 2015	March 2018	February 2016	August 2011		June 2017						November 2018		September 2016		July 2016
Line of credit facility, average outstanding amount																													0
Unused borrowing capacity												73,000,000																	839,400,000
Applicable margin on interest rate					0.50%	1.50%			1.50%	2.50%
Commitment fee percent							0.375%	0.50%																								0.375%
Debt instrument, stated percentage														6.25%	8.25%				9.875%		6.25%				6.875%		8.50%
Conditional maturity date, senior notes																Sep. 01, 2014
Senior notes														185,000,000	150,000,000				300,000,000	300,000,000	185,000,000	185,000,000	150,000,000	150,000,000	150,000,000		199,985,000
Proceeds from sale of storage assets											93,000,000							40,000,000
Storage capacity sold (number of barrels)											2,000,000							400,000
Term of lease, years																		15
Capitalized interest attributable to construction projects	$ 5,800,000	$ 3,000,000	$ 13,600,000	$ 5,000,000