Equity - Narratives (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands						1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Feb. 14, 2020 USD ($)	Jan. 23, 2020 $ / shares	Aug. 01, 2019 USD ($) shares	Apr. 26, 2018 USD ($) shares	Apr. 25, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Class of Stock
Ownership percentage held by reporting entity					57.00%
Deferred tax assets net							$ 131,521				$ 51,953								$ 131,521	$ 51,953
Deferred tax asset valuation allowances							822				45,439								822	45,439
Merger-related costs							441	$ 4,905	$ 2,687	$ 180	169	$ 182	$ 5,686	$ 4,125					8,213	10,162	$ 275
Dividends paid to Archrock stockholders							$ 22,031	$ 22,062	$ 17,206	$ 17,231	$ 17,156	$ 17,114	$ 15,486	$ 8,532	$ 8,536	$ 8,536	$ 8,534	$ 8,458	78,530	58,288	34,063
Subsequent Event
Class of Stock
Dividends declared (usd per share) | $ / shares		$ 0.145
Dividends paid to Archrock stockholders	$ 22,200
Limited Partner Units
Class of Stock
Shares issued (shares) | shares						4,600,000
Shares issued, value						$ 60,300
Limited Partner Units | Parent Company
Class of Stock
Net proceeds from sale of partnership units, net of tax						$ 1,300
General Partner
Class of Stock
Partners' capital accounts (units) | shares						93,163
General Partner | Parent Company
Class of Stock
General partner units interest (percent)						2.00%
Over-Allotment | Limited Partner Units
Class of Stock
Shares issued (shares) | shares						600,000
Archrock | Archrock, Inc
Class of Stock
Ownership interest percentage					43.00%
Elite Acquisition
Class of Stock
Merger-related costs																			7,800
Elite Acquisition | Common Stock
Class of Stock
Shares issued as compensation for asset acquisition (shares) | shares			21,700,000
Issuance of Archrock common stock pursuant to Elite Acquisition, net of tax			$ 225,900
Partnership Merger
Class of Stock
Deferred tax assets acquired				$ 156,000
Deferred tax assets net				52,200
Deferred tax asset valuation allowances				$ 50,800
Adjustments to additional paid in capital, deferred tax asset																			105,200
Merger-related costs																			$ 500	$ 10,200	$ 300
Partnership Merger | Common Stock
Class of Stock
Business acquisition, shares issued (shares) | shares				57,600,000
Business acquisition, shares acquired (shares) | shares				41,200,000
Share conversion rate (per share)				1.40
Value of shares used as consideration				$ 625,300
Partnership Merger | Common Stock
Class of Stock
Business acquisition, shares issued (shares) | shares																				57,634,005