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Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2009
Dec. 31, 2008
Jun. 02, 2014
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)   $ 24,722us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit $ 3,029us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit          
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance 24,102us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance 24,102us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance 4,740us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance          
Operating loss carryforwards   86,578us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards            
Tax Credit Carryforward, Amount   547us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount            
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date   Substantially all of the net operating loss carry forwards and unused minimum tax credit carry forwards expire between 2024 and 2034.            
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Limitations on Use   The Company’s utilization of restricted net operating tax loss carry forwards against future income for tax purposes is restricted pursuant to the “change in ownership” rules in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. These rules, in general, provide that an ownership change occurs when the percentage shareholdings of 5% direct or indirect stockholders of a loss corporation have, in aggregate, increased by more than 50 percentage points during the immediately preceding three years. Restrictions in net operating loss carry forwards occurred in 2001 as a result of the acquisition of the Company by Counsel. Further restrictions may have occurred as a result of subsequent changes in the share ownership and capital structure of the Company and Counsel and disposition of business interests by the Company. Pursuant to Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, the annual usage of the Company’s net operating loss carry forwards was limited to approximately $2,500 per annum until 2008 and $1,700 per annum thereafter. There is no certainty that the application of these “change in ownership” rules may not recur, resulting in further restrictions on the Company’s income tax loss carry forwards existing at a particular time. In addition, further restrictions, reductions in, or expiry of net operating loss and net capital loss carry forwards may occur through future merger, acquisition and/or disposition transactions or failure to continue a significant level of business activities. Any such additional limitations could require the Company to pay income taxes on its future earnings and record an income tax expense to the extent of such liability, despite the existence of such tax loss carry forwards. The Company’s utilization of restricted net operating tax loss carry forwards against future income for tax purposes is restricted pursuant to the “change in ownership” rules in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. These rules, in general, provide that an ownership change occurs when the percentage shareholdings of 5% direct or indirect stockholders of a loss corporation have, in aggregate, increased by more than 50 percentage points during the immediately preceding three years. Restrictions in net operating loss carry forwards occurred in 2001 as a result of the acquisition of the Company by Counsel. Pursuant to Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, the annual usage of the Company’s net operating loss carry forwards was limited to approximately $2,500 per annum until 2008 and $1,700 per annum thereafter. Further restrictions may have occurred as a result of subsequent changes in the share ownership and capital structure of the Company and Counsel and disposition of business interests by the Company.          
Reduction in Deferred Tax Assets   12,000hgbl_ReductionInDeferredTaxAssets            
Unrecognized Tax Benefits   12,059us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits 12,059us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits          
Open Tax Year     2013 2012 2011      
Business Acquisition, Intangible Assets               3,390us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
Deferred tax assets (liabilities), net of valuation allowance   (960)us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent 0us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent          
NLEX [Member]                
Business Acquisition, Intangible Assets               3,390us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= hgbl_NlexMember
Trade Names [Member] | NLEX [Member]                
Business Acquisition, Intangible Assets               2,437us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= hgbl_NlexMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
Trade Names [Member] | NLEX [Member] | Indefinite-Lived [Member]                
Business Acquisition, Intangible Assets   2,437us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= hgbl_NlexMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_IndefinitelivedIntangibleAssetsMember		            
Unrestricted [Member]                
Operating loss carryforwards   57,778us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= hgbl_UnrestrictedMember		            
Restricted [Member]                
Operating loss carryforwards   $ 28,800us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= hgbl_RestrictedMember		            
Operating Loss Carryforwards Per Year After 2008 [Member]                
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Limitations on Use           The Company’s utilization of restricted net operating tax loss carry forwards against future income for tax purposes is restricted pursuant to the “change in ownership” rules in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. These rules, in general, provide that an ownership change occurs when the percentage shareholdings of 5% direct or indirect stockholders of a loss corporation have, in aggregate, increased by more than 50 percentage points during the immediately preceding three years. Restrictions in net operating loss carry forwards occurred in 2001 as a result of the acquisition of the Company by Counsel. Pursuant to Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, the annual usage of the Company’s net operating loss carry forwards was limited to approximately $2,500 per annum until 2008 and $1,700 per annum thereafter. Further restrictions may have occurred as a result of subsequent changes in the share ownership and capital structure of the Company and Counsel and disposition of business interests by the Company. The Company’s utilization of restricted net operating tax loss carry forwards against future income for tax purposes is restricted pursuant to the “change in ownership” rules in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. These rules, in general, provide that an ownership change occurs when the percentage shareholdings of 5% direct or indirect stockholders of a loss corporation have, in aggregate, increased by more than 50 percentage points during the immediately preceding three years. Restrictions in net operating loss carry forwards occurred in 2001 as a result of the acquisition of the Company by Counsel. Pursuant to Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, the annual usage of the Company’s net operating loss carry forwards was limited to approximately $2,500 per annum until 2008 and $1,700 per annum thereafter. Further restrictions may have occurred as a result of subsequent changes in the share ownership and capital structure of the Company and Counsel and disposition of business interests by the Company.