Business Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 200,370		$ 196,017		$ 377,783		$ 392,069
Operating profit (loss)	(3,891)		8,803		(4,476)		15,825
Net income (loss)	(3,624)		5,147		(5,148)		9,569
Immaterial Error Correction	1.1
Operating Segments | NACoal
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	49,780		43,567		89,652		94,714
Operating profit (loss)	183		11,196		6,836		22,981
Net income (loss)	(75)		8,952		5,630		18,543
Operating Segments | HBB
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	118,385		114,651		219,710		220,802
Operating profit (loss)	2,251		4,005		3,188		6,673
Net income (loss)	1,359		1,985		1,709		3,486
Operating Segments | KC
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	32,804		38,380		69,680		78,091
Operating profit (loss)	(4,255)		(5,407)		(10,769)		(10,387)
Net income (loss)	(2,657)		(2,403)		(6,690)		(5,670)
Operating Segments | NACCO and Other (a)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit (loss)	(2,004)	[1]	(1,099)	[1]	(3,356)	[1]	(3,535)	[1]
Net income (loss)	(1,673)		(1,048)		(2,870)		(3,051)
Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(599)		(581)		(1,259)		(1,538)
Operating profit (loss)	(66)		108		(375)		93
Net income (loss)	$ (578)		$ (2,339)		$ (2,927)		$ (3,739)

[1] During the second quarter of 2014, the Company recorded a $1.1 million charge included in selling, general and administrative expenses in NACCO and Other to correct a prior period accounting error related to an increase in the estimated liability for certain frozen deferred compensation plans. Management, quantitatively and qualitatively, assessed the materiality of the error and the correction thereof and concluded that the effect of the previous accounting treatment was not material to prior periods, expected 2014 full-year results, or trend of earnings and determined no material misstatements existed in those prior periods and no restatement of those prior period financial statements was necessary.