City Holding Company (Parent Company Only) Financial Information (Condensed Statements Of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Operating Activities
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ 22,222	$ 20,126	$ 18,251	$ 28,996	$ 22,611	$ 22,371	$ 22,751	$ 21,619	$ 89,595	$ 89,352	$ 70,002
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Unrealized and Realized Investment Gains (Losses)									801	(957)	90
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)									2,640	4,939	(1,244)
Stock based compensation									3,253	2,516	2,151
Asset write down									0	297	491
Change in other assets									(13,790)	(1,959)	5,404
Change in other liabilities									11,974	7,587	4,308
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities									89,795	105,048	77,572
Investing Activities
Proceeds from sales of available for sale securities									30,307	70,404	0
Payments for (Proceeds from) Loans and Leases									(3,911)	(30,146)	(95,284)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities									(285,286)	(108,831)	(168,465)
Financing Activities
Repayment of long-term debt									(4,056)	0	(16,495)
Proceeds from sale of capital securities									0	0	495
Dividends paid									(36,673)	(35,547)	(29,583)
Purchases of treasury stock									(36,481)	(19,431)	(20,271)
Exercise of stock options									223	526	1,164
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities									584,006	20,936	131,376
Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents									388,515	17,153	40,483
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period				140,144				122,991	140,144	122,991	82,508
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	528,659				140,144				528,659	140,144	122,991
Parent Company
Operating Activities
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent									89,595	89,352	70,002
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Unrealized and Realized Investment Gains (Losses)									1,018	(425)	(208)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)									(255)	173	(88)
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net									1	3	1
Stock based compensation									3,253	2,516	2,151
Asset write down									0	0	193
Change in other assets									(284)	2,696	2,668
Change in other liabilities									(2,936)	(2,060)	(1,816)
Equity In Undistributed Earnings Of Subsidiaries									(17,280)	(32,297)	(23,171)
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities									73,112	59,958	49,732
Investing Activities
Proceeds from sales of available for sale securities									0	6	0
Payments for (Proceeds from) Loans and Leases									39	38	0
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities									39	44	(23,452)
Financing Activities
Repayment of long-term debt									(4,056)	0	(16,495)
Proceeds from sale of capital securities									0	0	495
Dividends paid									(36,673)	(35,547)	(29,583)
Purchases of treasury stock									(36,481)	(19,431)	(20,271)
Exercise of stock options									223	526	1,164
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities									(76,987)	(54,452)	(64,690)
Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents									(3,836)	5,550	(38,410)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period				$ 26,171				$ 20,621	26,171	20,621	59,031
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$ 22,335				$ 26,171				$ 22,335	26,171	20,621
Farmers Deposit Bancorp, Inc. [Member]
Investing Activities
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired											(20,691)
Farmers Deposit Bancorp, Inc. [Member] | Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash Acquired from Acquisition											946
Investing Activities
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired										0	(23,954)
Poage Bankshares, Inc. [Member]
Investing Activities
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired											32,917
Poage Bankshares, Inc. [Member] | Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash Acquired from Acquisition											518
Investing Activities
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired										$ 0	$ (502)