Earnings Per Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ 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
Numerator:
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
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic (in shares)	73,343	73,328	73,301	73,040	74,485	77,365	77,784	79,496	73,253	76,453	81,051
Diluted effect of stock awards (shares)									0	0	909
Weighted average shares outstanding assuming dilution (shares)									73,253	76,453	81,960
(Loss) earnings per share attributable to U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.:
Basic (loss) earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ (4.00)	$ (0.31)	$ 0.08	$ (0.26)	$ (3.44)	$ 0.08	$ 0.23	$ 0.39	$ (4.49)	$ (2.63)	$ 1.79
Diluted (loss) earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ (4.00)	$ (0.31)	$ 0.08	$ (0.26)	$ (3.44)	$ 0.08	$ 0.22	$ 0.39	$ (4.49)	$ (2.63)	$ 1.77