CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 750,061	$ 734,893	$ 1,445,387	$ 1,426,035
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	741,202	729,649	1,393,236	1,349,001
Depreciation and amortization attributable to costs of revenues	8,613	6,630	16,799	10,967
Gross profit (loss)	246	(1,386)	35,352	66,067
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	37,441	42,636	77,223	84,578
Depreciation and amortization attributable to operating expenses	1,125	1,028	2,229	2,044
Total operating expenses	38,566	43,664	79,452	86,622
Loss from operations	(38,320)	(45,050)	(44,100)	(20,555)
Other income (expense):
Other income (expenses)	520	(496)	(529)	1,156
Gain on change in value of derivative warrant liability	1,680	9,600	8,338	415
Interest expense	(17,725)	(77,536)	(35,408)	(90,013)
Total other expense	(15,525)	(68,432)	(27,599)	(88,442)
Loss from continuing operations before income tax	(53,845)	(113,482)	(71,699)	(108,997)
Income tax benefit	0	28,688	0	27,676
Loss from continuing operations	(53,845)	(84,794)	(71,699)	(81,321)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax (see note 22)	0	3,340	0	53,680
Net loss	(53,845)	(81,454)	(71,699)	(27,641)
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest from continuing operations	(72)	(53)	(192)	(103)
Net loss attributable to Vertex Energy, Inc.	(53,773)	(81,401)	(71,507)	(27,538)
Net income loss attributable to common shareholders from continuing operations	(53,773)	(84,741)	(71,507)	(81,218)
Net income attributable to common shareholders from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	3,340	0	53,680
Net loss attributable to common shareholders, basic	$ (53,773)	$ (81,401)	$ (71,507)	$ (27,538)
Basic loss per common share
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.58)	$ (1.07)	$ (0.76)	$ (1.05)
Discontinued operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	0	0.03	0	0.69
Basic loss per common share (in dollars per share)	(0.58)	(1.04)	(0.76)	(0.36)
Diluted income (loss) per common share
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	(0.58)	(1.07)	(0.76)	(1.05)
Discontinued operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	0	0.03	0	0.69
Diluted income (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.58)	$ (1.04)	$ (0.76)	$ (0.36)
Shares used in computing earnings per share
Basic (in shares)	93,514	79,519	93,514	77,615
Diluted (in shares)	93,514	79,519	93,514	77,615