CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 97,330	$ 29,160	$ 18,410
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	273	0	54
Depreciation and amortization	188,084	174,946	188,563
Long-lived asset impairment	44,663	28,127	29,142
Inventory write-downs	944	1,614	2,397
Amortization of operating lease ROU assets	2,931
Amortization of deferred financing costs	6,211	6,113	6,976
Amortization of debt discount	910	1,410	1,325
Amortization of terminated interest rate swaps	0	291	552
Debt extinguishment loss	3,653	2,450	291
Interest rate swaps	(1,071)	(131)	2,183
Stock-based compensation expense	8,105	7,388	8,461
Non-cash restructuring charges	0	0	997
Provision for doubtful accounts	2,567	1,677	5,144
Gain on sale of assets, net	(16,016)	(5,674)	(5,675)
Deferred income tax provision (benefit)	(39,597)	5,238	(59,760)
Amortization of contract costs	23,330	14,939	0
Deferred revenue recognized in earnings	(42,268)	(28,428)	0
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable, trade	3,248	(21,028)	(6,889)
Inventory	6,036	4,210	(236)
Other assets	4,458	(15,249)	(721)
Contract costs, net	(27,237)	(32,435)	0
Accounts payable and other liabilities	(12,728)	14,964	9,616
Deferred revenue	36,578	36,571	730
Other	12	(206)	104
Net cash provided by continuing operations	290,416	225,947	201,664
Net cash used in discontinued operations	(269)	0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	290,147	225,947	201,664
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(385,198)	(319,102)	(221,693)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets	80,961	33,927	46,954
Proceeds from insurance and other settlements	3,696	252	252
Cash paid in Elite Acquisition	(214,019)	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(514,560)	(284,923)	(174,487)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings of long-term debt	2,395,250	714,830	1,242,000
Repayments of long-term debt	(2,071,750)	(605,636)	(1,270,194)
Payments for debt issuance costs	(22,426)	(3,332)	(14,855)
Proceeds from (payments for) settlement of interest rate swaps that include financing elements	1,180	190
Proceeds from (payments for) settlement of interest rate swaps that include financing elements			(1,785)
Dividends paid to Archrock stockholders	(78,530)	(58,288)	(34,063)
Distributions paid to noncontrolling partners in the Partnership	0	(11,766)	(44,449)
Net proceeds from sale of Partnership units	0	0	60,291
Proceeds from stock options exercised	0	264	992
Proceeds from stock issued under employee stock purchase plan	771	803	356
Purchases of treasury stock	(2,007)	(1,759)	(2,788)
Contribution from Exterran Corporation	0	18,744	44,720
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	222,488	54,050	(19,775)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(1,925)	(4,926)	7,402
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	5,610	10,536	3,134
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	3,685	5,610	10,536
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid	(97,451)	(86,758)	(78,891)
Income taxes refunded, net	1,973	2,131	695
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions:
Accrued capital expenditures	11,767	17,491	22,490
Issuance of Archrock common stock pursuant to Elite Acquisition, net of tax	225,880
Partnership Merger
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions:
Issuance of Archrock common stock pursuant to Elite Acquisition, net of tax	0	57,421	0
Elite Acquisition
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions:
Issuance of Archrock common stock pursuant to Elite Acquisition, net of tax	$ 225,880	$ 0	$ 0