Equity, Other Comprehensive Income, and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income - Rollforward of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
Mar. 31, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2016 |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items] | | | | |
Beginning Balance AOCI December 31, 2016, Defined Benefit Plans Before-Tax | $ (57,613) | | | |
Translation adjustments, Defined Benefit Plans Before-Tax | 0 | | | |
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, Defined Benefit Plans Before-Tax | 0 | | | |
Amortization of prior service cost, Defined Benefit Plans Before-Tax | 334 | $ 334 | $ 1,335 | $ 1,336 |
Amortization of net actuarial loss, Defined Benefit Plans Before-Tax | 6,361 | 6,767 | 26,660 | 32,552 |
Regulatory adjustment, Defined Benefit Plans Before-Tax | (5,735) | (6,123) | (5,196) | (3,982) |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss), Defined Benefit Plans Before-Tax | 960 | 978 | 29 | (613) |
Less: Translation adjustment attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest, Defined Benefit Plans Before-Tax | 0 | | | |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Southwest Gas Corporation, Defined Benefit Plans Before-Tax | 960 | | | |
Ending Balance AOCI March 31, 2017, Defined Benefit Plans Before-Tax | (56,653) | | (56,653) | |
Beginning Balance AOCI December 31, 2016, Defined Benefit Plans Tax (Expense) Benefit | 21,893 | | | |
Translation adjustments, Defined Benefit Plans Tax (Expense) Benefit | 0 | | | |
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, Defined Benefit Plans Tax (Expense) Benefit | 0 | | | |
Amortization of prior service cost, Defined Benefit Plans Tax (Expense) Benefit | (127) | (127) | (507) | (507) |
Amortization of net actuarial loss, Defined Benefit Plans Tax (Expense) Benefit | (2,417) | (2,571) | (10,131) | (12,370) |
Regulatory adjustment, Defined Benefit Plans Tax (Expense) Benefit | 2,179 | 2,327 | 1,974 | 1,514 |
Pension plans other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (Expense) or Benefit | (365) | (371) | (12) | 234 |
Less: Translation adjustment attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest, Defined Benefit Plans Tax (Expense) Benefit | 0 | | | |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Southwest Gas Corporation, Defined Benefit Plans Tax (Expense) Benefit | (365) | | | |
Ending Balance AOCI March 31, 2017, Defined Benefit Plans Tax (Expense) Benefit | 21,528 | | 21,528 | |
Beginning Balance AOCI December 31, 2016, Defined Benefit Plans After-Tax | (35,720) | | | |
Translation adjustments, Defined Benefit Plans After-Tax | 0 | | | |
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, Defined Benefit Plans After-Tax | 0 | | | |
Amortization of prior service cost, Defined Benefit Plans After-Tax | 207 | 207 | 828 | 829 |
Amortization of net actuarial (gain)/loss, Defined Benefit Plans After-Tax | 3,944 | 4,196 | 16,529 | 20,182 |
Regulatory adjustment, Defined Benefit Plans After-Tax | (3,556) | | | |
Net defined benefit pension plans | 595 | 607 | 17 | (379) |
Less: Translation adjustment attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest, Defined Benefit Plans After-Tax | 0 | | | |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Southwest Gas Corporation, Defined Benefit Plans After-Tax | 595 | | | |
Ending Balance AOCI March 31, 2017, Defined Benefit Plans After-Tax | (35,125) | | (35,125) | |
Beginning Balance AOCI December 31, 2016, FSIRS - Before-Tax | (15,999) | | | |
Translation adjustments, FSIRS - Before-Tax | 0 | | | |
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, FSIRS - Before-Tax | 0 | | | |
FSIRS amounts reclassified from AOCI, FSIRS - Before-Tax | 836 | 836 | 3,345 | 3,344 |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss), FSIRS - Before-Tax | 836 | 836 | 3,345 | 3,344 |
Less: Translation adjustment attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest, FSIRS - Before-Tax | 0 | | | |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Southwest Gas Corporation, FSIRS - Before-Tax | 836 | | | |
Ending Balance AOCI March 31, 2017, FSIRS - Before-Tax | (15,163) | | (15,163) | |
Beginning Balance AOCI December 31, 2016, FSIRS - Tax (Expense) Benefit | 6,080 | | | |
Translation adjustments, FSIRS - Tax (Expense) Benefit | 0 | | | |
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, FSIRS - Tax (Expense) Benefit | 0 | | | |
FSIRS amounts reclassified from AOCI, FSIRS - Tax (Expense) Benefit | (318) | (317) | (1,271) | (1,271) |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss), FSIRS - Tax (Expense) Benefit | (318) | (317) | (1,271) | (1,271) |
Less: Translation adjustment attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest, FSIRS - Tax (Expense) Benefit | 0 | | | |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Southwest Gas Corporation, FSIRS - Tax (Expense) Benefit | (318) | | | |
Ending Balance AOCI March 31, 2017, FSIRS - Tax (Expense) Benefit | 5,762 | | 5,762 | |
Beginning Balance AOCI December 31, 2016, FSIRS - After-Tax | (9,919) | | | |
Translation adjustments, FSIRS - After-Tax | 0 | | | |
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications | 0 | | | |
FSIRS amounts reclassified from AOCI, FSIRS - After-Tax | 518 | 519 | 2,074 | 2,073 |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) | 518 | 519 | 2,074 | 2,073 |
Less: Translation adjustment attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest | 0 | | | |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Southwest Gas Corporation, FSIRS - After-Tax | 518 | | | |
Ending Balance AOCI March 31, 2017, FSIRS - After-Tax | (9,401) | | (9,401) | |
Beginning Balance AOCI December 31, 2016, Foreign Currency Items Before-Tax | (2,369) | | | |
Translation adjustments, Foreign Currency Items Before-Tax | 220 | 782 | (401) | 100 |
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications | 220 | 782 | (401) | 100 |
FSIRS amounts reclassified from AOCI, Foreign Currency Items Before-Tax | 0 | | | |
Amortization of prior service cost, Foreign Currency Items Before-Tax | 0 | | | |
Amortization of net actuarial loss, Foreign Currency Items Before-Tax | 0 | | | |
Regulatory adjustment, Foreign Currency Items Before-Tax | 0 | | | |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) | 220 | | | |
Less: Translation adjustment attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest, Foreign Currency Items Before-Tax | 7 | | | |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Southwest Gas Holdings,Inc., Foreign Currency Items Before-Tax | 213 | | | |
Ending Balance AOCI March 31, 2017 | (2,156) | | (2,156) | |
Beginning Balance AOCI December 31, 2016, Foreign Currency items - Tax (Expense) Benefit | 0 | | | |
Translation adjustments, Foreign Currency items - Tax (Expense) Benefit | 0 | 0 | | |
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, Foreign Currency items - Tax (Expense) Benefit | 0 | | | |
FSIRS amounts reclassified from AOCI, Foreign Currency items - Tax (Expense) Benefit | 0 | | | |
Amortization of prior service cost ,Foreign Currency items - Tax (Expense) Benefit | 0 | | | |
Amortization of net actuarial loss, Foreign Currency items - Tax (Expense) Benefit | 0 | | | |
Regulatory adjustment, Foreign Currency items - Tax (Expense) Benefit | 0 | | | |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss), Foreign Currency items - Tax (Expense) Benefit | 0 | 0 | | |
Less: Translation adjustment attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest, Foreign Currency items - Tax (Expense) Benefit | 0 | | | |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Southwest Gas Holdings,Inc., Foreign Currency items - Tax (Expense) Benefit | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ending Balance AOCI March 31, 2017, Foreign Currency items - Tax (Expense) Benefit | 0 | | 0 | |
Beginning Balance AOCI December 31, 2016, Foreign Currency items - After-Tax | (2,369) | | | |
Translation adjustments, Foreign Currency items - After-Tax | 220 | 782 | (401) | 100 |
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, Foreign Currency items - After-Tax | 220 | 782 | (401) | 100 |
FSIRS amounts reclassified from AOCI, Foreign Currency items - After-Tax | 0 | | | |
Amortization of prior service cost, Foreign Currency items - After-Tax | 0 | | | |
Amortization of net actuarial loss, Foreign Currency items - After-Tax | 0 | | | |
Regulatory adjustment, Foreign Currency items - After-Tax | 0 | | | |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss), Foreign Currency items - After-Tax | 220 | | | |
Less: Translation adjustment attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest, Foreign Currency items - After-Tax | 7 | | | |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Southwest Gas Holdings,Inc., Foreign Currency Items - After-Tax | 213 | | | |
Ending Balance AOCI March 31, 2017, Foreign Currency items - After-Tax | (2,156) | | (2,156) | |
Beginning Balance AOCI December 31, 2016, AOCI | (48,008) | | | |
Translation adjustments, AOCI | 220 | | | |
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, AOCI | 220 | | | |
Amounts reclassified into net income | 518 | 519 | 2,074 | 2,073 |
Amortization of prior service cost, AOCI | 207 | 207 | 828 | 829 |
Amortization of net actuarial loss | 3,944 | 4,196 | 16,529 | 20,182 |
Regulatory adjustment, AOCI | (3,556) | | | |
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | 1,333 | 1,908 | 1,690 | 1,794 |
Less: Translation adjustment attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest, AOCI | 7 | | | |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Southwest Gas Corporation, AOCI | 1,326 | | | |
Ending Balance AOCI March 31, 2017, AOCI | (46,682) | | (46,682) | |
Southwest Gas Corporation [Member] | | | | |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items] | | | | |
Beginning Balance AOCI December 31, 2016, Defined Benefit Plans Before-Tax | (57,613) | | | |
Amortization of prior service cost, Defined Benefit Plans Before-Tax | 334 | | | |
Amortization of net actuarial loss, Defined Benefit Plans Before-Tax | 6,361 | | | |
Regulatory adjustment, Defined Benefit Plans Before-Tax | (5,735) | | | |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Southwest Gas Corporation, Defined Benefit Plans Before-Tax | 960 | | | |
Ending Balance AOCI March 31, 2017, Defined Benefit Plans Before-Tax | (56,653) | | (56,653) | |
Beginning Balance AOCI December 31, 2016, Defined Benefit Plans Tax (Expense) Benefit | 21,893 | | | |
Amortization of prior service cost, Defined Benefit Plans Tax (Expense) Benefit | (127) | | | |
Amortization of net actuarial loss, Defined Benefit Plans Tax (Expense) Benefit | (2,417) | | | |
Regulatory adjustment, Defined Benefit Plans Tax (Expense) Benefit | 2,179 | | | |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Southwest Gas Corporation, Defined Benefit Plans Tax (Expense) Benefit | (365) | | | |
Ending Balance AOCI March 31, 2017, Defined Benefit Plans Tax (Expense) Benefit | 21,528 | | 21,528 | |
Beginning Balance AOCI December 31, 2016, Defined Benefit Plans After-Tax | (35,720) | | | |
Amortization of prior service cost, Defined Benefit Plans After-Tax | 207 | 207 | 828 | 829 |
Amortization of net actuarial (gain)/loss, Defined Benefit Plans After-Tax | 3,944 | 4,196 | 16,529 | 20,182 |
Regulatory adjustment, Defined Benefit Plans After-Tax | (3,556) | | | |
Net defined benefit pension plans | 595 | 607 | 17 | (379) |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Southwest Gas Corporation, Defined Benefit Plans After-Tax | 595 | | | |
Ending Balance AOCI March 31, 2017, Defined Benefit Plans After-Tax | (35,125) | | (35,125) | |
Beginning Balance AOCI December 31, 2016, FSIRS - Before-Tax | (15,999) | | | |
FSIRS amounts reclassified from AOCI, FSIRS - Before-Tax | 836 | | | |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Southwest Gas Corporation, FSIRS - Before-Tax | 836 | | | |
Ending Balance AOCI March 31, 2017, FSIRS - Before-Tax | (15,163) | | (15,163) | |
Beginning Balance AOCI December 31, 2016, FSIRS - Tax (Expense) Benefit | 6,080 | | | |
FSIRS amounts reclassified from AOCI, FSIRS - Tax (Expense) Benefit | (318) | | | |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Southwest Gas Corporation, FSIRS - Tax (Expense) Benefit | (318) | | | |
Ending Balance AOCI March 31, 2017, FSIRS - Tax (Expense) Benefit | 5,762 | | 5,762 | |
Beginning Balance AOCI December 31, 2016, FSIRS - After-Tax | (9,919) | | | |
FSIRS amounts reclassified from AOCI, FSIRS - After-Tax | 518 | 519 | 2,074 | 2,073 |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) | 518 | 519 | 2,074 | 2,073 |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Southwest Gas Corporation, FSIRS - After-Tax | 518 | | | |
Ending Balance AOCI March 31, 2017, FSIRS - After-Tax | (9,401) | | (9,401) | |
Beginning Balance AOCI December 31, 2016, AOCI | (45,639) | | | |
Amounts reclassified into net income | 518 | 519 | 2,074 | 2,073 |
Amortization of prior service cost, AOCI | 207 | 207 | 828 | 829 |
Amortization of net actuarial loss | 3,944 | 4,196 | 16,529 | 20,182 |
Regulatory adjustment, AOCI | (3,556) | | | |
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | 1,113 | $ 1,126 | 2,091 | $ 1,694 |
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Southwest Gas Corporation, AOCI | 1,113 | | | |
Ending Balance AOCI March 31, 2017, AOCI | $ (44,526) | | $ (44,526) | |