Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Document Document And Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2014
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Registrant Name	ATLAS RESOURCES Public #17-2008 (B) L.P.
Entity Central Index Key	0001399541
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	0