City Holding Company (Parent Company Only) Financial Information (Condensed Statements Of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended			13 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2017
Operating Activities
Net Income Available to Common Shareholders	$ 9,669	$ 13,932	$ 14,685	$ 16,026	$ 14,656	$ 13,232	$ 12,541	$ 11,702	$ 54,310	$ 52,128	$ 54,097
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Realized investment securities gains									(4,476)	(3,978)	(2,130)
Deferred income tax expense									14,909	3,817	6,627
Stock based compensation									2,097	2,018	1,793
Depreciation									5,884	6,235	6,088
Asset write down									0	444	1,449
Change in other assets									1,277	(1,556)	(976)
Change in other liabilities									(426)	5,581	(8,478)
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities									77,843	65,330	47,895
Investing Activities
Proceeds from sales of available for sale securities									5,776	30,850	389
Net Cash Provided by Investing Activities									(173,405)	(261,293)	(184,080)
Financing Activities
Dividends paid									(27,120)	(25,718)	(25,304)
Issuance of common stock									28,408	6,864	0	$ 36,400
Purchases of treasury stock									0	(10,018)	(7,055)
Exercise of stock options									600	1,200	3,000
Proceeds from exercise of warrants									0	0	1,896
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities									89,931	213,989	58,070
Increase (decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents									(5,631)	18,026	(78,115)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period				88,139				70,113	88,139	70,113	148,228
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	82,508				88,139				82,508	88,139	70,113	82,508
Parent Company
Operating Activities
Net Income Available to Common Shareholders									54,310	52,128	54,097
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Realized investment securities gains									(200)	0	0
Deferred income tax expense									1,347	(241)	(148)
Amortization and accretion									0	(5)	0
Stock based compensation									2,097	2,018	3
Depreciation									1	1	1
Asset write down									0	444	0
Change in other assets									(405)	260	13,338
Change in other liabilities									(1,660)	(2,288)	462
Equity In Undistributed Earnings Of Subsidiaries									(25,199)	(44,752)	(6,118)
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities									30,291	7,565	61,635
Investing Activities
Proceeds from sales of available for sale securities									200	0	0
Net Cash Provided by Investing Activities									200	0	0
Financing Activities
Dividends paid									(27,120)	(25,718)	(25,304)
Issuance of common stock									28,408	6,864	0
Purchases of treasury stock									0	(10,018)	(7,055)
Exercise of stock options									732	1,155	2,979
Proceeds from exercise of warrants									0	0	1,896
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities									2,020	(27,717)	(27,484)
Increase (decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents									32,511	(20,152)	34,151
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period				$ 26,520				$ 46,672	26,520	46,672	12,521
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$ 59,031				$ 26,520				$ 59,031	$ 26,520	$ 46,672	$ 59,031