Subsidiary Guarantors (Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	$ 26,064	$ 31,836	$ 25,144	$ 17,433
Accounts receivable	58,677	41,897
Due from affiliates	2,547
Derivative instruments	30,399	45,522
Prepaid and other current assets	2,194	2,642
Total current assets	119,881	122,062
Noncurrent assets:
Oil and natural gas properties and other property, plant and equipment, net	1,575,808	1,464,269
Derivative instruments	63,070	76,621
Other assets	39,778	23,575
Total noncurrent assets	1,678,656	1,564,465
Total assets	1,798,537	1,686,527
Current liabilities:
Current portion of asset retirement obligations	1,729	1,426
Derivative instruments	15,306	8,727
Accrued and other liabilities	64,585	46,284
Total current liabilities	81,620	56,437
Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term debt	896,464	766,076
Derivative instruments	9,247	16,993
Asset retirement obligations	140,853	125,565
Other liabilities	18,934	6,892
Total noncurrent liabilities	1,065,498	915,526
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	645,162	714,564
Noncontrolling interest	6,257
Total partners' capital	651,419	714,564
Total liabilities and partners' capital	1,798,537	1,686,527
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Accounts receivable	(319)
Due from affiliates	(238,011)
Total current assets	(238,330)
Noncurrent assets:
Investment in subsidiaries	(721,645)
Total noncurrent assets	(721,645)
Total assets	(959,975)
Current liabilities:
Due to affiliates	(238,010)
Accrued and other liabilities	(319)
Total current liabilities	(238,329)
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	(727,903)
Noncontrolling interest	6,257
Total partners' capital	(721,646)
Total liabilities and partners' capital	(959,975)
Parent Co - Issuer [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value		68
Due from affiliates	237,235
Total current assets	237,235
Noncurrent assets:
Investment in subsidiaries	708,451
Other assets	4,840
Total noncurrent assets	713,291
Total assets	950,526
Current liabilities:
Due to affiliates	775
Accrued and other liabilities	8,125
Total current liabilities	8,900
Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term debt	296,464
Total noncurrent liabilities	296,464
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	645,162
Total partners' capital	645,162
Total liabilities and partners' capital	950,526
Guarantor [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	21,851	31,768
Accounts receivable	56,055
Due from affiliates	3,323
Derivative instruments	30,399
Prepaid and other current assets	1,705
Total current assets	113,333
Noncurrent assets:
Oil and natural gas properties and other property, plant and equipment, net	1,562,752
Derivative instruments	63,070
Investment in subsidiaries	13,194
Other assets	17,673
Total noncurrent assets	1,656,689
Total assets	1,770,022
Current liabilities:
Current portion of asset retirement obligations	1,729
Due to affiliates	237,235
Derivative instruments	15,306
Accrued and other liabilities	54,781
Total current liabilities	309,051
Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term debt	600,000
Derivative instruments	9,247
Asset retirement obligations	136,194
Other liabilities	7,079
Total noncurrent liabilities	752,520
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	708,451
Total partners' capital	708,451
Total liabilities and partners' capital	1,770,022
Non-Guarantor [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	4,213
Accounts receivable	2,941
Prepaid and other current assets	489
Total current assets	7,643
Noncurrent assets:
Oil and natural gas properties and other property, plant and equipment, net	13,056
Other assets	17,265
Total noncurrent assets	30,321
Total assets	37,964
Current liabilities:
Accrued and other liabilities	1,998
Total current liabilities	1,998
Noncurrent liabilities:
Asset retirement obligations	4,659
Other liabilities	11,855
Total noncurrent liabilities	16,514
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	19,452
Total partners' capital	19,452
Total liabilities and partners' capital	$ 37,964