Subsidiary Guarantors (Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	$ 13,360	$ 31,836	$ 17,433	$ 2,195
Accounts receivable	57,442	41,897
Due from affiliates	3,915
Derivative instruments	27,485	45,522
Prepaid and other current assets	1,859	2,642
Total current assets	104,061	122,062
Noncurrent assets:
Oil and natural gas properties and other property, plant and equipment, net	1,604,983	1,464,269
Derivative instruments	62,131	76,621
Other assets	44,752	23,575
Total noncurrent assets	1,711,866	1,564,465
Total assets	1,815,927	1,686,527
Current liabilities:
Current portion of asset retirement obligations	4,310	1,426
Derivative instruments	11,233	8,727
Accrued and other liabilities	79,045	46,284
Total current liabilities	94,588	56,437
Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term debt	911,593	766,076
Derivative instruments	6,251	16,993
Asset retirement obligations	151,011	125,565
Other liabilities	15,025
Total noncurrent liabilities	1,083,880	915,526
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	628,910	714,564
Noncontrolling interest	8,549
Total partners' capital	637,459	714,564	362,698	326,694
Total liabilities and partners' capital	1,815,927	1,686,527
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Accounts receivable	(570)
Due from affiliates	(230,831)
Total current assets	(231,401)
Noncurrent assets:
Investment in subsidiaries	(728,212)
Total noncurrent assets	(728,212)
Total assets	(959,613)
Current liabilities:
Due to affiliates	(230,831)
Accrued and other liabilities	(570)
Total current liabilities	(231,401)
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	(736,761)
Total partners' capital	(728,212)
Total liabilities and partners' capital	(959,613)
Parent Co - Issuer [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	78	68
Due from affiliates	234,746
Total current assets	234,824
Noncurrent assets:
Investment in subsidiaries	711,734
Other assets	4,663
Total noncurrent assets	716,397
Total assets	951,221
Current liabilities:
Accrued and other liabilities	25,718
Total current liabilities	25,718
Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term debt	296,593
Total noncurrent liabilities	296,593
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	628,910
Total partners' capital	628,910
Total liabilities and partners' capital	951,221
Guarantor [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	10,575	31,768
Accounts receivable	55,073
Derivative instruments	27,485
Prepaid and other current assets	1,718
Total current assets	94,851
Noncurrent assets:
Oil and natural gas properties and other property, plant and equipment, net	1,591,015
Derivative instruments	62,131
Investment in subsidiaries	16,478
Other assets	20,176
Total noncurrent assets	1,689,800
Total assets	1,784,651
Current liabilities:
Current portion of asset retirement obligations	4,310
Due to affiliates	230,831
Derivative instruments	11,233
Accrued and other liabilities	52,100
Total current liabilities	298,474
Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term debt	615,000
Derivative instruments	6,251
Asset retirement obligations	145,893
Other liabilities	7,299
Total noncurrent liabilities	774,443
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	711,734
Total partners' capital	711,734
Total liabilities and partners' capital	1,784,651
Non-Guarantor [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	2,707
Accounts receivable	2,939
Prepaid and other current assets	141
Total current assets	5,787
Noncurrent assets:
Oil and natural gas properties and other property, plant and equipment, net	13,968
Other assets	19,913
Total noncurrent assets	33,881
Total assets	39,668
Current liabilities:
Accrued and other liabilities	1,797
Total current liabilities	1,797
Noncurrent liabilities:
Asset retirement obligations	5,118
Other liabilities	7,726
Total noncurrent liabilities	12,844
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	25,027
Total partners' capital	25,027
Total liabilities and partners' capital	$ 39,668