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Note 5 - Income Taxes (Details) - Changes in the Valuation Allowance (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Balance at beginning of year |  |  |  | $ (22,895)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Balance at end of year | (32,094)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance | (27,155)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance | (23,030)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance | (22,895)us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Increase Due to Uncertainty of Recovery [Member] |  |  |  |
Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Valuation allowance deferred tax asset | (6,314)us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount / us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis = hl_IncreaseDueToUncertaintyOfRecoveryMember | (3,870)us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount / us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis = hl_IncreaseDueToUncertaintyOfRecoveryMember | (3,837)us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount / us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis = hl_IncreaseDueToUncertaintyOfRecoveryMember |
Decrease Related to Utilization and Expiration [Member] |  |  |  |
Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Valuation allowance deferred tax asset | $ 1,375 us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount / us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis = hl_DecreaseRelatedToUtilizationAndExpirationMember | $ (255)us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount / us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis = hl_DecreaseRelatedToUtilizationAndExpirationMember | $ 3,702 us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount / us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceByDeferredTaxAssetAxis = hl_DecreaseRelatedToUtilizationAndExpirationMember |

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- Definition Amount of deferred tax assets for which it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319 + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Details
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- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in the valuation allowance for a specified deferred tax asset. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=37586315&loc=d3e32123-109318 + Details
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- Details
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- Details
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Balance Type: |
Period Type: |