Legal Proceedings - Additional Information (Detail)	1 Months Ended
	Sep. 15, 2011	Aug. 04, 2011
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Law suit filing date		On August 4, 2011, CARBO Ceramics Inc. was named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit filed by C-E Minerals, Inc. (“C-E”) in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division.
Name of defendant		CARBO Ceramics Inc.
Name of plaintiff		C-E Minerals, Inc.
Laws affected		C-E has alleged that a mutual non-competition provision contained in a Raw Material Requirements Agreement between C-E and CARBO Ceramics Inc., dated June 1, 2003, is invalid under federal antitrust law and applicable state law. The covenant generally prohibits C-E from engaging in the manufacture or sale of ceramic proppant, and prohibits the Company from engaging in the business of selling calcined clay through the end of 2013 (three years after the termination date of the agreement).
Damages sought		C-E is seeking a declaratory judgment that the covenant is invalid, along with a preliminary and permanent injunction that would prevent the enforcement of the covenant. C-E is also seeking to recover its attorney's fees from the Company.
Termination period for agreement		3 years
Amended complaint	C-E subsequently amended its complaint on September 15, 2011 to further allege that the Company has certain monopoly power and has asked for declaratory and injunctive relief that would prevent the Company from enforcing certain damages provisions in its sales contracts.
Actions taken by defendant	In addition, the Company has filed a counter-claim against C-E seeking injunctive relief and damages in connection with sales of ceramic proppant by C-E and its affiliates.