Subsidiary Guarantors (Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash	$ 6,415	$ 13,360	$ 19,666	$ 31,836
Accounts receivable	56,116	57,442
Due from affiliates	4,380	3,915
Derivative instruments	15,065	27,485
Prepaid and other current assets	4,122	1,859
Total current assets	86,098	104,061
Noncurrent assets:
Oil and natural gas properties and other property, plant and equipment, net	1,667,488	1,604,983
Derivative instruments	14,265	62,131
Other assets	57,894	44,752
Total noncurrent assets	1,739,647	1,711,866
Total assets	1,825,745	1,815,927
Current liabilities:
Current portion of asset retirement obligations	4,356	4,310
Derivative instruments	26,009	11,233
Accrued and other liabilities	78,619	79,045
Total current liabilities	108,984	94,588
Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term debt	1,011,852	911,593
Deferred Class B unit obligation	153,749
Derivative instruments	19,471	6,251
Asset retirement obligations	156,447	151,011
Other liabilities	14,209	15,025
Total noncurrent liabilities	1,355,728	1,083,880
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	351,701	628,910
Noncontrolling interest	9,332	8,549
Total partners' capital	361,033	637,459
Total liabilities and partners' capital	1,825,745	1,815,927
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Accounts receivable	(480)	(570)
Due from affiliates	(197,402)	(230,831)
Total current assets	(197,882)	(231,401)
Noncurrent assets:
Investment in subsidiaries	(621,484)	(728,212)
Total noncurrent assets	(621,484)	(728,212)
Total assets	(819,366)	(959,613)
Current liabilities:
Due to affiliates	(197,402)	(230,831)
Accrued and other liabilities	(480)	(570)
Total current liabilities	(197,882)	(231,401)
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	(630,816)	(736,761)
Noncontrolling interest	9,332	8,549
Total partners' capital	(621,484)	(728,212)
Total liabilities and partners' capital	(819,366)	(959,613)
Parent Co - Issuer [Member]
Current assets:
Cash	73	78
Due from affiliates	201,782	234,746
Total current assets	201,855	234,824
Noncurrent assets:
Investment in subsidiaries	603,871	711,734
Other assets	22,360	4,663
Total noncurrent assets	626,231	716,397
Total assets	828,086	951,221
Current liabilities:
Accrued and other liabilities	25,784	25,718
Total current liabilities	25,784	25,718
Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term debt	296,852	296,593
Deferred Class B unit obligation	153,749
Total noncurrent liabilities	450,601	296,593
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	351,701	628,910
Total partners' capital	351,701	628,910
Total liabilities and partners' capital	828,086	951,221
Guarantor [Member]
Current assets:
Cash	3,064	10,575
Accounts receivable	53,617	55,073
Derivative instruments	15,065	27,485
Prepaid and other current assets	3,841	1,718
Total current assets	75,587	94,851
Noncurrent assets:
Oil and natural gas properties and other property, plant and equipment, net	1,652,732	1,591,015
Derivative instruments	14,265	62,131
Investment in subsidiaries	17,613	16,478
Other assets	15,442	20,176
Total noncurrent assets	1,700,052	1,689,800
Total assets	1,775,639	1,784,651
Current liabilities:
Current portion of asset retirement obligations	4,356	4,310
Due to affiliates	197,402	230,831
Derivative instruments	26,009	11,233
Accrued and other liabilities	51,519	52,100
Total current liabilities	279,286	298,474
Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term debt	715,000	615,000
Derivative instruments	19,471	6,251
Asset retirement obligations	151,182	145,893
Other liabilities	6,829	7,299
Total noncurrent liabilities	892,482	774,443
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	603,871	711,734
Total partners' capital	603,871	711,734
Total liabilities and partners' capital	1,775,639	1,784,651
Non-Guarantor [Member]
Current assets:
Cash	3,278	2,707
Accounts receivable	2,979	2,939
Prepaid and other current assets	281	141
Total current assets	6,538	5,787
Noncurrent assets:
Oil and natural gas properties and other property, plant and equipment, net	14,756	13,968
Other assets	20,092	19,913
Total noncurrent assets	34,848	33,881
Total assets	41,386	39,668
Current liabilities:
Accrued and other liabilities	1,796	1,797
Total current liabilities	1,796	1,797
Noncurrent liabilities:
Asset retirement obligations	5,265	5,118
Other liabilities	7,380	7,726
Total noncurrent liabilities	12,645	12,844
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	26,945	25,027
Total partners' capital	26,945	25,027
Total liabilities and partners' capital	$ 41,386	$ 39,668