Document And Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Aug. 12, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2020
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Trading Symbol	SAEX
Entity Registrant Name	SAExploration Holdings, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001514732
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		6,612,332
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-35471
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	27-4867100
Entity Address, Address Line One	1160 Dairy Ashford Road
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 160
Entity Address, City or Town	Houston
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	77079
City Area Code	281
Local Phone Number	258-4400
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, par value $0.0001
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Shell Company	false