Name:	hgbl_AssetLiquidationExpense
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable due to auction expenses.

No definition available.

Name:	hgbl_AuctionExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	hgbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the amount of proceeds from completed auctions that are payable to auction clients. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer). In most cases, the cash proceeds from the auction have been received by the Company as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	hgbl_DueToAuctionClientsCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	hgbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations payable to the Company's joint venture partners in asset liquidation transactions. The obligations payable generally consist of the joint venture partners' share of proceeds received or receivable for a completed transaction, and/or the Company's share of joint venture expenses. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

No definition available.

Name:	hgbl_DueToJointVenturePartnersCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	hgbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Patent licensing and maintenance

No definition available.

Name:	hgbl_PatentLicensingAndMaintenance
Namespace Prefix:	hgbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable due to regulatory (e.g.: filing) and legal expenses.

No definition available.

Name:	hgbl_RegulatoryAndLegalFees
Namespace Prefix:	hgbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and due within one year (or the operating cycle, if longer), including liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received, taxes, interest, rent and utilities, accrued salaries and bonuses, payroll taxes and fringe benefits.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19

-Article 5

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for professional fees, such as for legal and accounting services received. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Current Liabilities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509677

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6935-107765

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.20)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 6

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6911-107765

Name:	us-gaap_AccruedProfessionalFeesCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The current portion of money or property received from customers which is either to be returned upon satisfactory contract completion or applied to customer receivables in accordance with the terms of the contract or the understandings.

Name:	us-gaap_CustomerDepositsCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Total of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for obligations related to services received from employees, such as accrued salaries and bonuses, payroll taxes and fringe benefits. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable arising from transactions not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

Name:	us-gaap_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable for statutory income, sales, use, payroll, excise, real, property and other taxes. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).