Document And Entity Information (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Nov. 01, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	HALLADOR ENERGY COMPANY
Document Type	10-Q
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		28,348,000
Entity Public Float			$ 64,143,157
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000788965
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3