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Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
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Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Interest-bearing Deposits [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | $ 1,798 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_InterestBearingDepositsMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member | $ 596 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_InterestBearingDepositsMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Interest-bearing Deposits [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 136 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_InterestBearingDepositsMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member | 393 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_InterestBearingDepositsMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Common Stock [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 1,105 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member | 1,220 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Common Stock [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 281 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member | 311 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Mutual Funds [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 26,392 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_MutualFundsMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member | 23,252 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_MutualFundsMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Mutual Funds [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 7,412 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_MutualFundsMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member | 6,837 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_MutualFundsMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 29,295 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member | 25,068 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 7,829 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member | 7,541 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Common Collective Funds [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 12,280 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_CommonCollectiveFundsMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member | 9,654 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_CommonCollectiveFundsMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Common Collective Funds [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 3,040 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_CommonCollectiveFundsMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member | 2,982 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_CommonCollectiveFundsMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 12,280 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member | 9,654 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 3,040 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member | 2,982 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Real Estate Investments [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 8,889 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_RealEstateInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member | 10,797 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_RealEstateInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Real Estate Investments [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 2,458 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_RealEstateInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member | 2,865 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_RealEstateInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Common Collective Funds [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 8,454 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_CommonCollectiveFundsMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member | 7,970 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_CommonCollectiveFundsMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Common Collective Funds [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 2,306 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_CommonCollectiveFundsMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member | 2,174 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_CommonCollectiveFundsMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 17,343 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member | 18,767 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 4,764 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member | 5,039 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis = us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Interest-bearing Deposits [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 1,798 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_InterestBearingDepositsMember | 596 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_InterestBearingDepositsMember
Interest-bearing Deposits [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 136 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_InterestBearingDepositsMember | 393 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_InterestBearingDepositsMember
Common Stock [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 1,105 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | 1,220 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember
Common Stock [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 281 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | 311 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember
Real Estate Investments [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 8,889 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_RealEstateInvestmentsMember | 10,797 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_RealEstateInvestmentsMember
Real Estate Investments [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 2,458 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_RealEstateInvestmentsMember | 2,865 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_RealEstateInvestmentsMember
Common Collective Funds [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 20,734 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_CommonCollectiveFundsMember | 17,624 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_CommonCollectiveFundsMember
Common Collective Funds [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 5,346 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_CommonCollectiveFundsMember | 5,156 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_CommonCollectiveFundsMember
Mutual Funds [Member] | Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 26,392 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_MutualFundsMember | 23,252 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_MutualFundsMember
Mutual Funds [Member] | Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 7,412 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_MutualFundsMember | 6,837 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember / us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis = hl_MutualFundsMember
Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | 58,918 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember | 53,489 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_HeclaMiningCompanyRetirementPlanMember
Lucky Friday Pension Plan [Member] |  |
Note 8 - Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - Fair Value by Asset Category [Line Items] |  |
Assets, fair value | $ 15,633 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember | $ 15,562 us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = hl_LuckyFridayPensionPlanMember

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- Definition Fair value portion of probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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