Organization and Basis of Presentation (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Organization and Basis of Presentation (Policies)	Sep. 30, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CVR and its direct and indirect subsidiaries including the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership, the Refining Partnership and their respective subsidiaries, as discussed further below. The ownership interests of noncontrolling investors in CVR's subsidiaries are recorded as a noncontrolling interest included as a separate component of equity for all periods presented. All intercompany account balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain information and footnotes required for complete financial statements under GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to SEC rules and regulations. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the December 31, 2016 audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in CVR's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, which was filed with the SEC on February 21, 2017 (the "2016 Form 10-K"). According to the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 810, Consolidations, the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity's ("VIE") activities is required to consolidate the VIE; the primary beneficiary is identified as the enterprise that has a) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance and b) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE; limited partnerships and other similar entities are considered a VIE unless the limited partners hold substantive kick-out rights or participating rights; and an ongoing analysis is required to determine whether the variable interest gives rise to a controlling financial interest in the VIE, among other things. Management has determined that the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership are VIEs because the limited partners of CVR Refining and CVR Partners lack both substantive kick-out rights and participating rights. Based upon the general partner’s roles and rights as afforded by the partnership agreements and its exposure to losses and benefits of each of the partnerships through its significant limited partner interests, intercompany credit facilities, and services agreements, CVR determined that it is the primary beneficiary of both the Refining Partnership and the Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnership. Based upon that determination, CVR consolidates both the Refining and Nitrogen Fertilizer Partnerships in its consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of the Company's management, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) that are necessary to fairly present the financial position of the Company as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the results of operations and comprehensive income for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, changes in equity for the nine month period ended September 30, 2017 and cash flows of the Company for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that will be realized for the year ending December 31, 2017 or any other interim or annual period.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09, creating a new topic, FASB ASC Topic 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," which supersedes revenue recognition requirements in FASB ASC Topic 605, "Revenue Recognition." This ASU requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. In addition, an entity is required to disclose sufficient information to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company will adopt this standard as of January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective application method, whereby the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard is recognized, if applicable, as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained deficit. The guidance will be applied prospectively and revenues reported in the periods prior to the date of adoption will not be changed. The Company is executing its implementation plan to adopt the new standard and is currently finalizing the assessment phase of the plan, after which the Company will complete the design and implementation phases of the plan, which will include implementing any changes to existing business processes, internal controls and systems to accommodate the new standard. During the assessment phase, the Company has reviewed the majority of its existing revenue streams, including an evaluation of accounting policies, contract reviews, identification of the type of arrangement where differences may arise in the conversion to the new standard, identification of practical expedients to be elected and additional disclosure requirements. The Company is still evaluating certain revenue streams and contracts and potential balance sheet presentation differences to determine the impact, if any, on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. To date, the Company has not identified any material differences in its existing revenue recognition methods that would require modification under the new standard. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases” (“ASU 2016-02”), creating a new topic, FASB ASC Topic 842, "Leases," which supersedes lease requirements in FASB ASC Topic 840, "Leases." The new standard revises accounting for operating leases by a lessee, among other changes, and requires a lessee to recognize a liability to make lease payments and an asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term in the balance sheet. The standard is effective for the first interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. At adoption, ASU 2016-02 will be applied using a modified retrospective application method. The Company is formulating an assessment and implementation plan to adopt the new standard. The Company expects its assessment and implementation plan to be ongoing during 2017 and 2018 and is currently unable to reasonably estimate the impact of adopting the new leases standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) - Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment" (“ASU 2017-04”). The new standard simplifies the accounting for goodwill impairments by eliminating step 2 from the goodwill quantitative impairment test. Instead, if the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss shall be recognized in an amount equal to that excess, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and early adoption is permitted. The Company early adopted ASU 2017-04 on January 1, 2017.