<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<FilingSummary>
  <Version>3.4.0.3</Version>
  <ProcessingTime/>
  <ReportFormat>html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>83</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>240</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>41</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>7</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0001000 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Cover</MenuCategory>
      <Position>1</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001000 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedBalanceSheets</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>2</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1002000 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfOperations</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>3</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1003000 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfComprehensiveIncome</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>4</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1003501 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfComprehensiveIncomeParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>5</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1004000 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfStockholdersEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>6</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1004501 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfStockholdersEquityParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>7</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1005000 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>8</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2101100 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>9</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2103100 - Disclosure - Capital Structure and Accumulated Comprehensive Income</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/CapitalStructureAndAccumulatedComprehensiveIncome</Role>
      <ShortName>Capital Structure and Accumulated Comprehensive Income</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>10</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2105100 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/AccountsReceivable</Role>
      <ShortName>Accounts Receivable</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>11</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2106100 - Disclosure - Inventories</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/Inventories</Role>
      <ShortName>Inventories</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>12</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2107100 - Disclosure - Property, Plant and Mine Development</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/PropertyPlantAndMineDevelopment</Role>
      <ShortName>Property, Plant and Mine Development</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>13</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2108100 - Disclosure - Debt</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/Debt</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>14</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2111100 - Disclosure - Asset Retirement Obligations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/AssetRetirementObligations</Role>
      <ShortName>Asset Retirement Obligations</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>15</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2112100 - Disclosure - Fair Value Accounting</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/FairValueAccounting</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Accounting</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>16</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2113100 - Disclosure - Short-Term Investments</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/ShortTermInvestments</Role>
      <ShortName>Short-Term Investments</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>17</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2115100 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingencies</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>18</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2116100 - Disclosure - Income Taxes</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/IncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>19</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2117100 - Disclosure - Pension and Post-Retirement Benefits</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/PensionAndPostRetirementBenefits</Role>
      <ShortName>Pension and Post-Retirement Benefits</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>20</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2118100 - Disclosure - Obligations under Guarantees</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/ObligationsUnderGuarantees</Role>
      <ShortName>Obligations under Guarantees</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>21</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2119100 - Disclosure - Segment Reporting</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/SegmentReporting</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Reporting</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>22</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2120100 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/SubsequentEvents</Role>
      <ShortName>Subsequent Events</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>23</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2201201 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Policies</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://ussilica.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPolicies</ParentRole>
      <Position>24</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2303301 - Disclosure - Capital Structure and Accumulated Comprehensive Income (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/CapitalStructureAndAccumulatedComprehensiveIncomeTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Capital Structure and Accumulated Comprehensive Income (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://ussilica.com/role/CapitalStructureAndAccumulatedComprehensiveIncome</ParentRole>
      <Position>25</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2305301 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/AccountsReceivableTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Accounts Receivable (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://ussilica.com/role/AccountsReceivable</ParentRole>
      <Position>26</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2306301 - Disclosure - Inventories (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/InventoriesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Inventories (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://ussilica.com/role/Inventories</ParentRole>
      <Position>27</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2307301 - Disclosure - Property, Plant and Mine Development (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/PropertyPlantAndMineDevelopmentTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Property, Plant and Mine Development (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://ussilica.com/role/PropertyPlantAndMineDevelopment</ParentRole>
      <Position>28</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2308301 - Disclosure - Debt (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/DebtTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://ussilica.com/role/Debt</ParentRole>
      <Position>29</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2311301 - Disclosure - Asset Retirement Obligations (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/AssetRetirementObligationsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Asset Retirement Obligations (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://ussilica.com/role/AssetRetirementObligations</ParentRole>
      <Position>30</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2312301 - Disclosure - Fair Value Accounting (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/FairValueAccountingTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Accounting (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://ussilica.com/role/FairValueAccounting</ParentRole>
      <Position>31</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2313301 - Disclosure - Short-Term Investments (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/ShortTermInvestmentsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Short-Term Investments (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://ussilica.com/role/ShortTermInvestments</ParentRole>
      <Position>32</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R33.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2315301 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingenciesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://ussilica.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingencies</ParentRole>
      <Position>33</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R34.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2317301 - Disclosure - Pension and Post-Retirement Benefits (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/PensionAndPostRetirementBenefitsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Pension and Post-Retirement Benefits (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://ussilica.com/role/PensionAndPostRetirementBenefits</ParentRole>
      <Position>34</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R35.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2319301 - Disclosure - Segment Reporting (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/SegmentReportingTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Reporting (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://ussilica.com/role/SegmentReporting</ParentRole>
      <Position>35</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R36.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2403402 - Disclosure - Capital Structure and Accumulated Comprehensive Income (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/CapitalStructureAndAccumulatedComprehensiveIncomeDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Capital Structure and Accumulated Comprehensive Income (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://ussilica.com/role/CapitalStructureAndAccumulatedComprehensiveIncomeTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>36</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R37.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2403403 - Disclosure - Capital Structure and Accumulated Comprehensive Income - Schedule of Quarterly Cash Dividends (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/CapitalStructureAndAccumulatedComprehensiveIncomeScheduleOfQuarterlyCashDividendsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Capital Structure and Accumulated Comprehensive Income - Schedule of Quarterly Cash Dividends (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>37</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R38.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2403404 - Disclosure - Capital Structure and Accumulated Comprehensive Income - Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/CapitalStructureAndAccumulatedComprehensiveIncomeChangesInAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Capital Structure and Accumulated Comprehensive Income - Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>38</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R39.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2403405 - Disclosure - Capital Structure and Accumulated Comprehensive Income The weighted-average stockawards (in thousands) that are antidilutive to EPS (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/CapitalStructureAndAccumulatedComprehensiveIncomeWeightedAverageStockawardsInThousandsThatAreAntidilutiveToEpsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Capital Structure and Accumulated Comprehensive Income The weighted-average stockawards (in thousands) that are antidilutive to EPS (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>39</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R40.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2404402 - Disclosure - Business Combination (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/BusinessCombinationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Business Combination (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>40</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R41.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2404403 - Disclosure - Business Combination - Schedule of Purchase Price Allocation (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/BusinessCombinationScheduleOfPurchasePriceAllocationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Business Combination - Schedule of Purchase Price Allocation (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>41</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R42.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2405402 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable - Schedule of Accounts Receivable (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/AccountsReceivableScheduleOfAccountsReceivableDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Accounts Receivable - Schedule of Accounts Receivable (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>42</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R43.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2405403 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable - Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/AccountsReceivableAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Accounts Receivable - Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>43</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R44.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406402 - Disclosure - Inventories - Schedule of Inventories (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/InventoriesScheduleOfInventoriesDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Inventories - Schedule of Inventories (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>44</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R45.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2407402 - Disclosure - Property, Plant and Mine Development (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/PropertyPlantAndMineDevelopmentDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Property, Plant and Mine Development (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://ussilica.com/role/PropertyPlantAndMineDevelopmentTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>45</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R46.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2407403 - Disclosure - Property, Plant and Mine Development - Schedule of Property, Plant and Mine Development (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/PropertyPlantAndMineDevelopmentScheduleOfPropertyPlantAndMineDevelopmentDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Property, Plant and Mine Development - Schedule of Property, Plant and Mine Development (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>46</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R47.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2408402 - Disclosure - Debt (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/DebtDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://ussilica.com/role/DebtTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>47</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R48.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2408403 - Disclosure - Debt - Schedule of Debt (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/DebtScheduleOfDebtDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt - Schedule of Debt (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>48</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R49.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2408404 - Disclosure - Debt - Schedule of Contractual Maturities of Debt (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/DebtScheduleOfContractualMaturitiesOfDebtDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt - Schedule of Contractual Maturities of Debt (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>49</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R50.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411402 - Disclosure - Asset Retirement Obligations (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/AssetRetirementObligationsDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Asset Retirement Obligations (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://ussilica.com/role/AssetRetirementObligationsTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>50</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R51.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411403 - Disclosure - Asset Retirement Obligations - Schedule of Changes in Asset Retirement Obligation (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/AssetRetirementObligationsScheduleOfChangesInAssetRetirementObligationDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Asset Retirement Obligations - Schedule of Changes in Asset Retirement Obligation (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>51</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R52.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2412402 - Disclosure - Fair Value Accounting - Schedule of Measure at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/FairValueAccountingScheduleOfMeasureAtFairValueOnRecurringBasisDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Accounting - Schedule of Measure at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>52</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R53.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2413402 - Disclosure - Short-Term Investments (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/ShortTermInvestmentsDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Short-Term Investments (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://ussilica.com/role/ShortTermInvestmentsTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>53</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R54.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2413403 - Disclosure - Short-Term Investments - Schedule of Available-for-Sale Short-Term Investments (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/ShortTermInvestmentsScheduleOfAvailableForSaleShortTermInvestmentsDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Short-Term Investments - Schedule of Available-for-Sale Short-Term Investments (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>54</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R55.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2415402 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingenciesDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://ussilica.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingenciesTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>55</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R56.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2415403 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies - Schedule of Future Minimum Annual Commitments (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingenciesScheduleOfFutureMinimumAnnualCommitmentsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies - Schedule of Future Minimum Annual Commitments (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>56</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R57.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2416401 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/IncomeTaxesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://ussilica.com/role/IncomeTaxes</ParentRole>
      <Position>57</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R58.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2417402 - Disclosure - Pension and Post-Retirement Benefits (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/PensionAndPostRetirementBenefitsDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Pension and Post-Retirement Benefits (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://ussilica.com/role/PensionAndPostRetirementBenefitsTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>58</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R59.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2417403 - Disclosure - Pension and Post-Retirement Benefits - Summarizes Information about Pension and Post-Retirement Benefit Plans (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/PensionAndPostRetirementBenefitsSummarizesInformationAboutPensionAndPostRetirementBenefitPlansDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Pension and Post-Retirement Benefits - Summarizes Information about Pension and Post-Retirement Benefit Plans (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>59</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R60.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2418401 - Disclosure - Obligations Under Guarantees (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/ObligationsUnderGuaranteesDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Obligations Under Guarantees (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>60</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R61.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2419402 - Disclosure - Segment Reporting (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/SegmentReportingDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Reporting (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://ussilica.com/role/SegmentReportingTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>61</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R62.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2419403 - Disclosure - Segment Reporting - Presentation of Sales and Segment Contribution Margin for Reporting Segments and Other Operating Results (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/SegmentReportingPresentationOfSalesAndSegmentContributionMarginForReportingSegmentsAndOtherOperatingResultsDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Reporting - Presentation of Sales and Segment Contribution Margin for Reporting Segments and Other Operating Results (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>62</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="slca-20160331.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R63.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2420401 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://ussilica.com/role/SubsequentEventsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Subsequent Events (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://ussilica.com/role/SubsequentEvents</ParentRole>
      <Position>63</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>slca-20160331.xml</File>
    <File>slca-20160331.xsd</File>
    <File>slca-20160331_cal.xml</File>
    <File>slca-20160331_def.xml</File>
    <File>slca-20160331_lab.xml</File>
    <File>slca-20160331_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles/>
  <BaseTaxonomies/>
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
