CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 76,903,516	$ 46,830,647	$ 196,332,796	$ 115,196,850
Cost of revenues	72,846,322	41,945,879	178,252,434	104,287,660
Gross profit	4,057,194	4,884,768	18,080,362	10,909,190
Reduction of contingent liability	(1,876,752)	0	(1,876,752)	(1,850,000)
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses (exclusive of acquisition related expenses)	6,801,396	2,495,748	16,464,402	7,129,673
Acquisition related expenses	259,235	0	2,819,065	0
Total operating expenses	7,060,631	2,495,748	19,283,467	7,129,673
Income (loss) from operations	(1,126,685)	2,389,020	673,647	5,629,517
Other income (expense):
Other income	109,980	0	110,357	0
Bargain purchase gain related to Omega acquisition	92,635	0	6,573,686	0
Other expense	0	(3,949)	(10,866)	(31,690)
Interest expense	(947,325)	(95,488)	(1,680,371)	(314,627)
Total other income (expense)	(744,710)	(99,437)	4,992,806	(346,317)
Income (loss) before income tax	(1,871,395)	2,289,583	5,666,453	5,283,200
Income tax benefit (expense)	(57,975)	40,211	(57,975)	21,460
Net income (loss)	(1,929,370)	2,329,794	5,608,478	5,304,660
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest	0	0	325,399	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex Energy, Inc.	$ (1,929,370)	$ 2,329,794	$ 5,933,877	$ 5,304,660
Earnings (loss) per common share
Basic (in USD per share)	$ (0.08)	$ 0.13	$ 0.26	$ 0.30
Diluted (in USD per share)	$ (0.08)	$ 0.12	$ 0.24	$ 0.27
Shares used in computing earnings per share
Basic (shares)	25,151,660	17,715,786	23,077,914	17,402,501
Diluted (shares)	25,151,660	19,997,257	24,825,326	19,766,263