Parent Company Financials - Condensed Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total sales									$ 1,474,477	$ 1,577,298	$ 1,240,851
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	$ 37,325	$ 40,208	$ 38,659	$ 34,656	$ 32,168	$ 37,980	$ 42,232	$ 34,591	150,848	146,971	107,056
Total operating expenses	443,861	87,464	83,558	79,256	344,410	75,130	94,979	63,183	694,139	577,702	204,289
Operating (loss) income	(362,764)	(9,283)	17,136	1,956	(274,068)	25,706	39,609	45,220	(352,955)	(163,533)	169,742
Other income (expense)
Total other expense	(22,553)	(21,453)	(8,691)	(23,256)	(19,945)	(20,937)	(19,133)	(6,405)	(75,953)	(66,420)	(33,216)
Income tax benefit	91,892	7,671	(2,384)	1,972	37,938	1,547	(2,832)	(7,521)	99,151	29,132	8,680
Net (loss) income	(293,425)	(23,065)	6,061	(19,328)	(256,075)	6,316	17,644	31,294	(329,757)	(200,821)	145,206
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest	(554)	(28)	(89)	(4)	(13)	0	0	0	(675)	(13)	0
Net (loss) income attributable to U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.	$ (292,871)	$ (23,037)	$ 6,150	$ (19,324)	$ (256,062)	$ 6,316	$ 17,644	$ 31,294	(329,082)	(200,808)	145,206
Other comprehensive (loss) income
Unrealized loss on derivatives									(1,432)	(1,545)	(44)
Foreign currency translation adjustment (net of tax of $(60), $(196), and $2 for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively)									(188)	(614)	(6)
Pension and other post-retirement benefits liability adjustment (net of tax of $(1,024), $339, and $1,205 for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively)									(3,214)	1,065	2,000
Comprehensive (loss) income									(334,591)	(201,915)	147,156
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest									(675)	(13)	0
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.									(333,916)	(201,902)	147,156
Tax expense (benefit) on unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives									(456)	(470)	(27)
Tax expense (benefit) on foreign currency translation adjustment									(60)	(196)	2
Tax (expense) benefit on pension and other post-retirement benefits liability adjustment									(1,024)	339	1,205
Parent Company
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total sales									0	0	0
Cost of sales									0	0	0
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative									253	254	252
Total operating expenses									253	254	252
Operating (loss) income									(253)	(254)	(252)
Other income (expense)
Interest income									1,440	2,784	3,854
Total other expense									1,440	2,784	3,854
Income before income taxes and equity in net earnings of subsidiaries									1,187	2,530	3,602
Income tax benefit									(327)	(696)	(1,453)
Income before equity in net earnings of subsidiaries									860	1,834	2,149
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax									(330,617)	(202,655)	143,057
Net (loss) income									(329,757)	(200,821)	145,206
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest									(675)	(13)	0
Net (loss) income attributable to U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.									(329,082)	(200,808)	145,206
Other comprehensive (loss) income
Unrealized loss on derivatives									(1,432)	(1,545)	(44)
Foreign currency translation adjustment (net of tax of $(60), $(196), and $2 for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively)									(188)	(614)	(6)
Pension and other post-retirement benefits liability adjustment (net of tax of $(1,024), $339, and $1,205 for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively)									(3,214)	1,065	2,000
Comprehensive (loss) income									(334,591)	(201,915)	147,156
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest									(675)	(13)	0
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.									(333,916)	(201,902)	147,156
Tax expense (benefit) on unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives									(456)	(470)	(27)
Tax expense (benefit) on foreign currency translation adjustment									(60)	(196)	2
Tax (expense) benefit on pension and other post-retirement benefits liability adjustment									$ (1,024)	$ 339	$ 1,205