CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 50,632,948	$ 32,470,451	$ 138,918,913	$ 104,153,844
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	42,593,367	28,696,461	114,434,776	90,864,044
Gross profit	8,039,581	3,773,990	24,484,137	13,289,800
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	5,658,659	5,690,761	16,668,692	16,280,495
Depreciation and amortization	1,806,839	1,697,821	5,234,014	4,942,911
Total operating expenses	7,465,498	7,388,582	21,902,706	21,223,406
Income (loss) from operations	574,083	(3,614,592)	2,581,431	(7,933,606)
Other income (expense):
Interest income	0	1,519	659	5,748
Gain (loss) on sale of assets	0	25,693	51,523	(13,806)
Gain (loss) on change in value of derivative warrant liability	(2,169,133)	1,371,461	(2,124,971)	2,676,902
Interest expense	(798,800)	(733,459)	(2,448,771)	(2,688,394)
Total other income (expense)	(2,967,933)	665,214	(4,521,560)	(19,550)
Income (loss) before income tax	(2,393,850)	(2,949,378)	(1,940,129)	(7,953,156)
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(2,393,850)	(2,949,378)	(1,940,129)	(7,953,156)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	(105,970)	34,554	76,305	94,690
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex Energy, Inc.	(2,287,880)	(2,983,932)	(2,016,434)	(8,047,846)
Accretion of discount on Series B and B-1 Preferred Stock	(515,698)	(424,480)	(1,444,376)	(1,267,778)
Accrual of dividends on Series B and B-1 Preferred Stock	(1,831,794)	(420,713)	(3,191,217)	(1,256,921)
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$ (4,635,372)	$ (3,829,125)	$ (6,652,027)	$ (10,572,545)
Income (loss) per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.12)	$ (0.20)	$ (0.32)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.12)	$ (0.20)	$ (0.32)
Shares used in computing earnings per share
Basic (in shares)	35,144,113	32,655,135	33,843,721	32,651,961
Diluted (in shares)	35,144,113	32,655,135	33,843,721	32,651,961