CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 36,912,779	$ 24,428,444	$ 71,683,393	$ 38,561,048
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below)	31,486,599	19,168,398	62,188,153	33,539,526
Gross profit (loss)	5,426,180	5,260,046	9,495,240	5,021,522
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	5,359,897	4,714,558	10,589,734	10,210,545
Depreciation and amortization	1,645,030	1,553,655	3,245,090	3,196,615
Total operating expenses	7,004,927	6,268,213	13,834,824	13,407,160
Loss from operations	(1,578,747)	(1,008,167)	(4,339,584)	(8,385,638)
Other income (expense):
Interest income	2,277	2,486	4,229	2,963
Gain (loss) on sale of assets	(26,399)	0	(39,499)	9,701,833
Gain (loss) on change in value of derivative liability	384,769	1,645,288	1,305,441	(341,032)
Gain (loss) on futures contracts	20,570	(317,675)	20,570	(261,759)
Interest expense	(618,448)	(406,019)	(1,954,935)	(2,321,511)
Total other income (expense)	(237,231)	924,080	(664,194)	6,780,494
Loss before income tax	(1,815,978)	(84,087)	(5,003,778)	(1,605,144)
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	0	0	117,646
Net loss	(1,815,978)	(84,087)	(5,003,778)	(1,487,498)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	51,528	(41,427)	60,136	(41,427)
Net loss attributable to Vertex Energy, Inc.	(1,867,506)	(42,660)	(5,063,914)	(1,446,071)
Accretion of discount on Series B and B-1 Preferred Stock	(410,097)	(471,877)	(843,298)	(858,535)
Accrual of dividends on Series B and B-1 Preferred Stock	(418,571)	(5,817,327)	(836,208)	(6,191,033)
Net loss available to common shareholders	$ (2,696,174)	$ (6,331,864)	$ (6,743,420)	$ (8,495,639)
Loss per common share
Basic (in USD per share)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.21)	$ (0.21)	$ (0.29)
Diluted (in USD per share)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.21)	$ (0.21)	$ (0.29)
Shares used in computing earnings per share
Basic (shares)	32,350,218	29,765,702	32,650,347	29,535,212
Diluted (shares)	32,350,218	29,765,702	32,650,347	29,535,212