Document and Entity Information	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	Carbon Natural Gas Co
Entity Central Index Key	0000086264
Document Type	S-1
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2011
Amendment Flag	true
Amendment Description
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company

Name:	crbo_DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	crbo
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Description of changes contained within amended document.

+ Details

Name:	dei_AmendmentDescription
Namespace Prefix:	dei
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

If the value is true, then the document as an amendment to previously-filed/accepted document.

+ Details

Name:	dei_AmendmentFlag
Namespace Prefix:	dei
Data Type:	xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

End date of current fiscal year in the format --MM-DD.

+ Details

Name:	dei_CurrentFiscalYearEndDate
Namespace Prefix:	dei
Data Type:	xbrli:gMonthDayItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The end date of the period reflected on the cover page if a periodic report. For all other reports and registration statements containing historical data, it is the date up through which that historical data is presented. If there is no historical data in the report, use the filing date. The format of the date is CCYY-MM-DD.

+ Details

Name:	dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate
Namespace Prefix:	dei
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The type of document being provided (such as 10-K, 10-Q, N-1A, etc). The document type is limited to the same value as the supporting SEC submission type, minus any "/A" suffix. The acceptable values are as follows: S-1, S-3, S-4, S-11, F-1, F-3, F-4, F-9, F-10, 6-K, 8-K, 10, 10-K, 10-Q, 20-F, 40-F, N-1A, 485BPOS, 497, NCSR, N-CSR, N-CSRS, N-Q, 10-KT, 10-QT, 20-FT, and Other.

+ Details

Name:	dei_DocumentType
Namespace Prefix:	dei
Data Type:	dei:submissionTypeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A unique 10-digit SEC-issued value to identify entities that have filed disclosures with the SEC. It is commonly abbreviated as CIK.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation 12B
-Number 240
-Section 12b
-Subsection 1

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntityCentralIndexKey
Namespace Prefix:	dei
Data Type:	dei:centralIndexKeyItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Indicate "Yes" or "No" whether registrants (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that registrants were required to file such reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. This information should be based on the registrant's current or most recent filing containing the related disclosure.

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntityCurrentReportingStatus
Namespace Prefix:	dei
Data Type:	dei:yesNoItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Indicate whether the registrant is one of the following: (1) Large Accelerated Filer, (2) Accelerated Filer, (3) Non-accelerated Filer, or (4) Smaller Reporting Company. Definitions of these categories are stated in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. This information should be based on the registrant's current or most recent filing containing the related disclosure.

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntityFilerCategory
Namespace Prefix:	dei
Data Type:	dei:filerCategoryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The exact name of the entity filing the report as specified in its charter, which is required by forms filed with the SEC.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation 12B
-Number 240
-Section 12b
-Subsection 1

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntityRegistrantName
Namespace Prefix:	dei
Data Type:	xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration