Revenue - Changes in Contract Assets and Liabilities (Details) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)
Unbilled Receivables
December 31, 2017	$ 5,245
Reclassifications to billed receivables	(8,161)
Revenues recognized in excess of period billings	5,428
June 30, 2018	2,512
Deferred Revenue
December 31, 2017	118,414
Revenues recognized from balances held at the beginning of the period	(20,344)
Revenues deferred from period collections on unfulfilled performance obligations	13,375
June 30, 2018	$ 111,445

Change in Contract with Customer, Asset

No definition available.

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- Definition

Change in Contract with Customer, Liability

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Contract with Customer, Asset, New Contract Additions

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contract with Customer, Liability, Increase from Cash Receipts

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	slca_ContractwithCustomerLiabilityIncreasefromCashReceipts
Namespace Prefix:	slca_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after allowance for credit loss, of right to consideration in exchange for good or service transferred to customer when right is conditioned on something other than passage of time.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913815&loc=SL49130531-203044

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-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913815&loc=SL49130533-203044

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of decrease in right to consideration in exchange for good or service transferred to customer when right is conditioned on something other than passage of time from transfer to receivable due to right to consideration becoming unconditional.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130551-203045

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Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Amount of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration has been received or is receivable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
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+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized that was previously included in balance of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration from customer has been received or is due.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
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