Subsidiary Guarantors (Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash	$ 23,260	$ 13,360	$ 15,580	$ 31,836
Accounts receivable	57,667	57,442
Due from affiliates	3,377	3,915
Derivative instruments	19,603	27,485
Prepaid and other current assets	1,650	1,859
Total current assets	105,557	104,061
Noncurrent assets:
Oil and natural gas properties and other property, plant and equipment, net	1,644,857	1,604,983
Derivative instruments	48,785	62,131
Other assets	40,292	44,752
Total noncurrent assets	1,733,934	1,711,866
Total assets	1,839,491	1,815,927
Current liabilities:
Current portion of asset retirement obligations	4,461	4,310
Derivative instruments	13,874	11,233
Accrued and other liabilities	78,966	79,045
Total current liabilities	97,301	94,588
Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term debt	974,723	911,593
Deferred Class B unit obligation	147,017
Derivative instruments	5,757	6,251
Asset retirement obligations	153,809	151,011
Other liabilities	14,676	15,025
Total noncurrent liabilities	1,295,982	1,083,880
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	437,439	628,910
Noncontrolling interest	8,769	8,549
Total partners' capital	446,208	637,459
Total liabilities and partners' capital	1,839,491	1,815,927
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Accounts receivable	(1,028)	(570)
Due from affiliates	(216,036)	(230,831)
Total current assets	(217,064)	(231,401)
Noncurrent assets:
Investment in subsidiaries	(692,768)	(728,212)
Total noncurrent assets	(692,768)	(728,212)
Total assets	(909,832)	(959,613)
Current liabilities:
Due to affiliates	(216,036)	(230,831)
Accrued and other liabilities	(1,028)	(570)
Total current liabilities	(217,064)	(231,401)
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	(701,537)	(736,761)
Noncontrolling interest	8,769	8,549
Total partners' capital	(692,768)	(728,212)
Total liabilities and partners' capital	(909,832)	(959,613)
Parent Co - Issuer [Member]
Current assets:
Cash	73	78
Accounts receivable	9
Due from affiliates	219,413	234,746
Total current assets	219,495	234,824
Noncurrent assets:
Investment in subsidiaries	675,968	711,734
Other assets	4,485	4,663
Total noncurrent assets	680,453	716,397
Total assets	899,948	951,221
Current liabilities:
Accrued and other liabilities	18,769	25,718
Total current liabilities	18,769	25,718
Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term debt	296,723	296,593
Deferred Class B unit obligation	147,017
Total noncurrent liabilities	443,740	296,593
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	437,439	628,910
Total partners' capital	437,439	628,910
Total liabilities and partners' capital	899,948	951,221
Guarantor [Member]
Current assets:
Cash	21,117	10,575
Accounts receivable	55,092	55,073
Derivative instruments	19,603	27,485
Prepaid and other current assets	1,567	1,718
Total current assets	97,379	94,851
Noncurrent assets:
Oil and natural gas properties and other property, plant and equipment, net	1,630,262	1,591,015
Derivative instruments	48,785	62,131
Investment in subsidiaries	16,800	16,478
Other assets	16,142	20,176
Total noncurrent assets	1,711,989	1,689,800
Total assets	1,809,368	1,784,651
Current liabilities:
Current portion of asset retirement obligations	4,461	4,310
Due to affiliates	216,036	230,831
Derivative instruments	13,874	11,233
Accrued and other liabilities	59,511	52,100
Total current liabilities	293,882	298,474
Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term debt	678,000	615,000
Derivative instruments	5,757	6,251
Asset retirement obligations	148,618	145,893
Other liabilities	7,143	7,299
Total noncurrent liabilities	839,518	774,443
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	675,968	711,734
Total partners' capital	675,968	711,734
Total liabilities and partners' capital	1,809,368	1,784,651
Non-Guarantor [Member]
Current assets:
Cash	2,070	2,707
Accounts receivable	3,594	2,939
Prepaid and other current assets	83	141
Total current assets	5,747	5,787
Noncurrent assets:
Oil and natural gas properties and other property, plant and equipment, net	14,595	13,968
Other assets	19,665	19,913
Total noncurrent assets	34,260	33,881
Total assets	40,007	39,668
Current liabilities:
Accrued and other liabilities	1,714	1,797
Total current liabilities	1,714	1,797
Noncurrent liabilities:
Asset retirement obligations	5,191	5,118
Other liabilities	7,533	7,726
Total noncurrent liabilities	12,724	12,844
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	25,569	25,027
Total partners' capital	25,569	25,027
Total liabilities and partners' capital	$ 40,007	$ 39,668