Document And Entity Information (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	May 08, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Document Line Items [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	TETRA TECHNOLOGIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000844965
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 911,481,175
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		79,637,789
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2015