CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 43,657,292	$ 46,917,770	$ 82,978,004	$ 88,285,965
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	36,515,421	36,796,258	71,359,770	71,841,409
Gross profit	7,141,871	10,121,512	11,618,234	16,444,556
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	6,028,859	5,364,591	11,376,600	11,010,033
Depreciation and amortization	1,780,890	1,733,076	3,517,903	3,427,175
Total operating expenses	7,809,749	7,097,667	14,894,503	14,437,208
Income (loss) from operations	(667,878)	3,023,845	(3,276,269)	2,007,348
Other income (expense):
Interest income	1,918	659	1,918	659
Gain on sale of assets	29,150	8,843	31,443	51,523
Gain (loss) on change in value of derivative warrant liability	746,017	475,913	(959,077)	44,162
Interest expense	(738,972)	(847,456)	(1,496,775)	(1,649,971)
Total other income (expense)	38,113	(362,041)	(2,422,491)	(1,553,627)
Income (loss) before income tax	(629,765)	2,661,804	(5,698,760)	453,721
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(629,765)	2,661,804	(5,698,760)	453,721
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	(202,329)	131,736	(307,760)	182,275
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex Energy, Inc.	(427,436)	2,530,068	(5,391,000)	271,446
Accretion of discount on Series B and B1 Preferred Stock	(532,925)	(556,214)	(1,093,600)	(1,198,504)
Dividends on Series B and B1 Preferred Stock	(412,875)	(534,680)	(819,670)	(1,089,597)
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$ (1,373,236)	$ 1,439,174	$ (7,304,270)	$ (2,016,655)
Income (loss) per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.03)	$ 0.03	$ (0.18)	$ (0.06)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.03)	$ 0.03	$ (0.18)	$ (0.06)
Shares used in computing earnings per share
Basic (in shares)	40,294,870	33,300,456	40,245,671	33,182,748
Diluted (in shares)	40,294,870	37,013,651	40,245,671	33,182,748