Business Segments (Balance Sheets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 655,408	$ 770,520	$ 809,956
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	23,680	28,070	24,572
Capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions of business	10,615	57,500	57,449
NACoal
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	303,138	389,964	419,786
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	17,067	22,003	16,601
Capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions of business	4,116	51,228	52,748
HBB
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	253,874	270,265	228,891
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	4,750	2,693	3,475
Capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions of business	4,365	4,516	2,313
KC
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	56,177	56,260	70,014
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	1,558	3,048	4,162
Capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions of business	1,806	1,193	2,150
NACCO and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	64,069	96,918	131,085
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	305	326	334
Capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions of business	328	563	238
Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ (21,850)	$ (42,887)	$ (39,820)