Document and Entity Information Document	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Apr. 26, 2013 Common Class A	Apr. 26, 2013 Common Class B
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	NACCO INDUSTRIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000789933
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		6,756,682	1,581,955