City Holding Company (Parent Company Only) Financial Information (Condensed Balance Sheets) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended			13 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2015
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock	$ 0	$ 28,408	$ 6,864	$ 36,400
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues	0	440,604	107,662	548,000
Assets
Securities available-for-sale	$ 723,254	$ 550,389		$ 550,389
Net Loans	3,571,642	3,108,574		3,108,574
Fixed assets	78,383	72,682		72,682
Other assets	46,951	36,361		36,361
Total Assets	4,899,012	4,132,281		4,132,281
Liabilities
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net	3,555	2,361		2,361
Other liabilities	56,725	45,426		45,426
Total Liabilities	4,298,248	3,629,774		3,629,774
Total Shareholders’ Equity	600,764	502,507	$ 442,438	502,507	$ 419,272
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	4,899,012	4,132,281		$ 4,132,281
Shares Issued, Price Per Share				$ 64.82
proceedsthatcouldbereceived	18,600
Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock	0	28,408	$ 6,864
Assets
Cash	20,621	59,031		$ 59,031
Securities available-for-sale	5,908	5,699		5,699
Investment in subsidiaries	583,673	459,150		459,150
Net Loans	701	0		0
Fixed assets	5	6		6
Other assets	3,316	2,989		2,989
Total Assets	614,224	526,875		526,875
Liabilities
Junior subordinated debentures	4,053	16,495		16,495
Dividends payable	8,774	7,184		7,184
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net	366	436		436
Other liabilities	267	253		253
Total Liabilities	13,460	24,368		24,368
Total Shareholders’ Equity	600,764	502,507		502,507
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity	614,224	$ 526,875		$ 526,875
Maximum
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Issuance of common stock	$ 55,000