Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 133,145,000	$ 120,936,000	$ 297,776,000	$ 284,194,000
Cost of sales	122,411,000	123,001,000	276,245,000	270,880,000
Gross profit (loss)	10,734,000	(2,065,000)	21,531,000	13,314,000
General and administrative expenses	9,637,000	17,400,000	22,393,000	31,385,000
Operating income (loss)	1,097,000	(19,465,000)	(862,000)	(18,071,000)
Interest expense, net	(4,826,000)	(4,102,000)	(8,456,000)	(9,154,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	(8,603,000)	0
Income from equity method investment	326,000	663,000	622,000	1,217,000
Loss before income taxes	(3,403,000)	(22,904,000)	(17,299,000)	(26,008,000)
Income tax benefit	0	(5,628,000)	0	(6,389,000)
Net loss	(3,403,000)	(17,276,000)	(17,299,000)	(19,619,000)
Less income attributable to non-controlling interest	133,000	750,000	487,000	1,226,000
Net loss attributable to Charah Solutions, Inc.	(3,536,000)	(18,026,000)	(17,786,000)	(20,845,000)
Deemed and imputed dividends on Series A Preferred Stock	(167,000)	0	(167,000)	0
Series A Preferred Stock dividends	(858,000)	0	(969,000)	0
Net loss attributable to common stockholders	$ (4,561,000)	$ (18,026,000)	$ (18,922,000)	$ (20,845,000)
Loss per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.61)	$ (0.64)	$ (0.71)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.61)	$ (0.64)	$ (0.71)
Weighted-average shares outstanding used in loss per common share:
Basic (in shares)	29,927	29,559	29,785	29,374
Diluted (in shares)	29,927	29,559	29,785	29,374