Subsidiary Guarantors (Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash	$ 16,159	$ 13,360	$ 26,064	$ 31,836
Accounts receivable	51,379	57,442
Due from affiliates		3,915
Derivative instruments	33,744	27,485
Prepaid and other current assets	3,338	1,859
Total current assets	104,620	104,061
Noncurrent assets:
Oil and natural gas properties and other property, plant and equipment, net	1,702,714	1,604,983
Derivative instruments	29,681	62,131
Other assets	57,844	44,752
Total noncurrent assets	1,790,239	1,711,866
Total assets	1,894,859	1,815,927
Current liabilities:
Current portion of asset retirement obligations	4,895	4,310
Due to affiliates	887
Derivative instruments	7,378	11,233
Accrued and other liabilities	88,309	79,045
Total current liabilities	101,469	94,588
Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term debt	1,051,981	911,593
Deferred Class B unit obligation	134,894
Derivative instruments	5,283	6,251
Asset retirement obligations	159,543	151,011
Other liabilities	12,189	15,025
Total noncurrent liabilities	1,363,890	1,083,880
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	419,956	628,910
Noncontrolling interest	9,544	8,549
Total partners' capital	429,500	637,459
Total liabilities and partners' capital	1,894,859	1,815,927
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Accounts receivable	(481)	(570)
Due from affiliates	(187,238)	(230,831)
Total current assets	(187,719)	(231,401)
Noncurrent assets:
Investment in subsidiaries	(678,847)	(728,212)
Total noncurrent assets	(678,847)	(728,212)
Total assets	(866,566)	(959,613)
Current liabilities:
Due to affiliates	(187,238)	(230,831)
Accrued and other liabilities	(481)	(570)
Total current liabilities	(187,719)	(231,401)
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	(688,391)	(736,761)
Noncontrolling interest	9,544	8,549
Total partners' capital	(678,847)	(728,212)
Total liabilities and partners' capital	(866,566)	(959,613)
Parent Co - Issuer [Member]
Current assets:
Cash	110	78		68
Due from affiliates	187,238	234,746
Total current assets	187,348	234,824
Noncurrent assets:
Investment in subsidiaries	660,926	711,734
Other assets	22,394	4,663
Total noncurrent assets	683,320	716,397
Total assets	870,668	951,221
Current liabilities:
Accrued and other liabilities	18,837	25,718
Total current liabilities	18,837	25,718
Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term debt	296,981	296,593
Deferred Class B unit obligation	134,894
Total noncurrent liabilities	431,875	296,593
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	419,956	628,910
Total partners' capital	419,956	628,910
Total liabilities and partners' capital	870,668	951,221
Guarantor [Member]
Current assets:
Cash	13,608	10,575	21,851	31,768
Accounts receivable	49,080	55,073
Derivative instruments	33,744	27,485
Prepaid and other current assets	3,119	1,718
Total current assets	99,551	94,851
Noncurrent assets:
Oil and natural gas properties and other property, plant and equipment, net	1,687,275	1,591,015
Derivative instruments	29,681	62,131
Investment in subsidiaries	17,921	16,478
Other assets	14,974	20,176
Total noncurrent assets	1,749,851	1,689,800
Total assets	1,849,402	1,784,651
Current liabilities:
Current portion of asset retirement obligations	4,895	4,310
Due to affiliates	188,125	230,831
Derivative instruments	7,378	11,233
Accrued and other liabilities	68,295	52,100
Total current liabilities	268,693	298,474
Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term debt	755,000	615,000
Derivative instruments	5,283	6,251
Asset retirement obligations	154,202	145,893
Other liabilities	5,298	7,299
Total noncurrent liabilities	919,783	774,443
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	660,926	711,734
Total partners' capital	660,926	711,734
Total liabilities and partners' capital	1,849,402	1,784,651
Non-Guarantor [Member]
Current assets:
Cash	2,441	2,707	4,213
Accounts receivable	2,780	2,939
Prepaid and other current assets	219	141
Total current assets	5,440	5,787
Noncurrent assets:
Oil and natural gas properties and other property, plant and equipment, net	15,439	13,968
Other assets	20,476	19,913
Total noncurrent assets	35,915	33,881
Total assets	41,355	39,668
Current liabilities:
Accrued and other liabilities	1,658	1,797
Total current liabilities	1,658	1,797
Noncurrent liabilities:
Asset retirement obligations	5,341	5,118
Other liabilities	6,891	7,726
Total noncurrent liabilities	12,232	12,844
Partners' capital:
QR Energy, LP partners' capital	27,465	25,027
Total partners' capital	27,465	25,027
Total liabilities and partners' capital	$ 41,355	$ 39,668