Parent Company Financials - Condensed Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ 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 Stockholders' Equity Statement [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				$ 1,052,304				$ 1,396,506	$ 1,052,304	$ 1,396,506	$ 1,273,290
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
Unrealized loss on derivatives									(1,432)	(1,545)	(44)
Foreign currency translation adjustment									(188)	(614)	(6)
Pension and post-retirement liability									(3,214)	1,065	2,000
Cash dividend declared ($0.25 per share for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively)									(18,728)	(19,330)	(20,387)
Contributions from non-controlling interest									4,554	7,497
Equity-based compensation									15,906	22,337	25,050
Proceeds from options exercised									128	61	798
Issuance of restricted stock											0
Shares withheld for tax payments related to vested restricted stock and stock units									(2,993)	(4,383)	(4,379)
Repurchase of common stock										(148,469)	(25,022)
Ending Balance	705,217				1,044,820				705,217	1,044,820
Ending Balance	$ 716,580				$ 1,052,304				$ 716,580	$ 1,052,304	$ 1,396,506
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.25	$ 0.25	$ 0.25
Total U.S. Silica Holdings Inc., Stockholders’ Equity
Condensed Stockholders' Equity Statement [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				$ 1,044,820				$ 1,396,506	$ 1,044,820	$ 1,396,506	$ 1,273,290
Net (loss) income									(329,082)	(200,808)	145,206
Unrealized loss on derivatives									(1,432)	(1,545)	(44)
Foreign currency translation adjustment									(188)	(614)	(6)
Pension and post-retirement liability									(3,214)	1,065	2,000
Cash dividend declared ($0.25 per share for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively)									(18,728)	(19,330)	(20,387)
Equity-based compensation									15,906	22,337	25,050
Proceeds from options exercised									128	61	798
Shares withheld for tax payments related to vested restricted stock and stock units									(2,993)	(4,383)	(4,379)
Repurchase of common stock										(148,469)	(25,022)
Ending Balance	$ 705,217				$ 1,044,820				705,217	1,044,820	1,396,506
Common Stock
Condensed Stockholders' Equity Statement [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				818				812	818	812	811
Shares withheld for tax payments related to vested restricted stock and stock units									5	6	1
Ending Balance	823				818				823	818	812
Treasury Stock
Condensed Stockholders' Equity Statement [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				(178,215)				(25,456)	(178,215)	(25,456)	(3,869)
Proceeds from options exercised									296	93	1,190
Issuance of restricted stock											1,859
Shares withheld for tax payments related to vested restricted stock and stock units									(2,993)	(4,383)	386
Repurchase of common stock										(148,469)	(25,022)
Ending Balance	(180,912)				(178,215)				(180,912)	(178,215)	(25,456)
Additional Paid-In Capital
Condensed Stockholders' Equity Statement [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				1,169,383				1,147,084	1,169,383	1,147,084	1,129,051
Equity-based compensation									15,906	22,337	25,050
Proceeds from options exercised									(168)	(32)	(392)
Issuance of restricted stock											(1,859)
Shares withheld for tax payments related to vested restricted stock and stock units									(5)	(6)	(4,766)
Ending Balance	1,185,116				1,169,383				1,185,116	1,169,383	1,147,084
Retained Earnings
Condensed Stockholders' Equity Statement [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				67,854				287,992	67,854	287,992	163,173
Net (loss) income									(329,082)	(200,808)	145,206
Cash dividend declared ($0.25 per share for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively)									(18,728)	(19,330)	(20,387)
Ending Balance	(279,956)				67,854				(279,956)	67,854	287,992
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Condensed Stockholders' Equity Statement [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				(15,020)				(13,926)	(15,020)	(13,926)	(15,876)
Unrealized loss on derivatives									(1,432)	(1,545)	(44)
Foreign currency translation adjustment									(188)	(614)	(6)
Pension and post-retirement liability									(3,214)	1,065	2,000
Ending Balance	(19,854)				(15,020)				(19,854)	(15,020)
Ending Balance	(19,854)				(15,020)				(19,854)	(15,020)	(13,926)
Non-controlling Interest
Condensed Stockholders' Equity Statement [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				7,484				0	7,484	0	0
Net (loss) income									(675)	(13)
Contributions from non-controlling interest									4,554	7,497
Ending Balance	11,363				7,484				11,363	7,484	0
Parent Company
Condensed Stockholders' Equity Statement [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				1,052,304				1,396,506	1,052,304	1,396,506	1,273,290
Net (loss) income									(329,757)	(200,821)	145,206
Unrealized loss on derivatives									(1,432)	(1,545)	(44)
Foreign currency translation adjustment									(188)	(614)	(6)
Pension and post-retirement liability									(3,214)	1,065	2,000
Cash dividend declared ($0.25 per share for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively)									(18,728)	(19,330)	(20,387)
Contributions from non-controlling interest									4,554	7,497
Equity-based compensation									15,906	22,337	25,050
Proceeds from options exercised									128	61	798
Shares withheld for tax payments related to vested restricted stock and stock units									(2,993)	(4,383)	(4,379)
Repurchase of common stock										(148,469)	(25,022)
Ending Balance	705,217				1,044,820				705,217	1,044,820
Ending Balance	716,580				1,052,304				$ 716,580	$ 1,052,304	$ 1,396,506
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)									$ 0.25	$ 0.25	$ 0.25
Parent Company | Total U.S. Silica Holdings Inc., Stockholders’ Equity
Condensed Stockholders' Equity Statement [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				1,044,820				1,396,506	$ 1,044,820	$ 1,396,506	$ 1,273,290
Net (loss) income									(329,082)	(200,808)	145,206
Unrealized loss on derivatives									(1,432)	(1,545)	(44)
Foreign currency translation adjustment									(188)	(614)	(6)
Pension and post-retirement liability									(3,214)	1,065	2,000
Cash dividend declared ($0.25 per share for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively)									(18,728)	(19,330)	(20,387)
Equity-based compensation									15,906	22,337	25,050
Proceeds from options exercised									128	61	798
Shares withheld for tax payments related to vested restricted stock and stock units									(2,993)	(4,383)	(4,379)
Repurchase of common stock										(148,469)	(25,022)
Ending Balance	705,217				1,044,820				705,217	1,044,820	1,396,506
Parent Company | Common Stock
Condensed Stockholders' Equity Statement [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				818				812	818	812	811
Shares withheld for tax payments related to vested restricted stock and stock units									5	6	1
Ending Balance	823				818				823	818	812
Parent Company | Treasury Stock
Condensed Stockholders' Equity Statement [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				(178,215)				(25,456)	(178,215)	(25,456)	(3,869)
Proceeds from options exercised									296	93	1,190
Issuance of restricted stock											1,859
Shares withheld for tax payments related to vested restricted stock and stock units									(2,993)	(4,383)	386
Repurchase of common stock										(148,469)	(25,022)
Ending Balance	(180,912)				(178,215)				(180,912)	(178,215)	(25,456)
Parent Company | Additional Paid-In Capital
Condensed Stockholders' Equity Statement [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				1,169,383				1,147,084	1,169,383	1,147,084	1,129,051
Equity-based compensation									15,906	22,337	25,050
Proceeds from options exercised									(168)	(32)	(392)
Issuance of restricted stock											(1,859)
Shares withheld for tax payments related to vested restricted stock and stock units									(5)	(6)	(4,766)
Ending Balance	1,185,116				1,169,383				1,185,116	1,169,383	1,147,084
Parent Company | Retained Earnings
Condensed Stockholders' Equity Statement [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				67,854				287,992	67,854	287,992	163,173
Net (loss) income									(329,082)	(200,808)	145,206
Cash dividend declared ($0.25 per share for 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively)									(18,728)	(19,330)	(20,387)
Ending Balance	(279,956)				67,854				(279,956)	67,854	287,992
Parent Company | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Condensed Stockholders' Equity Statement [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				(15,020)				(13,926)	(15,020)	(13,926)	(15,876)
Unrealized loss on derivatives									(1,432)	(1,545)	(44)
Foreign currency translation adjustment									(188)	(614)	(6)
Pension and post-retirement liability									(3,214)	1,065	2,000
Ending Balance	(19,854)				(15,020)				(19,854)	(15,020)	(13,926)
Parent Company | Non-controlling Interest
Condensed Stockholders' Equity Statement [Line Items]
Beginning Balance				$ 7,484				$ 0	7,484	0	0
Net (loss) income									(675)	(13)	0
Contributions from non-controlling interest									4,554	7,497
Ending Balance	$ 11,363				$ 7,484				$ 11,363	$ 7,484	$ 0