Legal Proceedings - Additional Information (Detail)	1 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012 LegalMatter	Jun. 13, 2012	Apr. 19, 2012	Mar. 01, 2012	Apr. 10, 2012	Feb. 09, 2012 Defendant
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Law suit filing date		On June 13, 2012, the Directors of the Company and Mr. Bautista were named as defendants in a second purported derivative action lawsuit brought on behalf of the Company by a stockholder in District Court in Harris County, Texas (this lawsuit collectively with the March Harris County Lawsuit, the "Harris County Lawsuits").	On April 19, 2012, a third purported class-action lawsuit was filed against the same defendants in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, which was also brought on behalf of shareholders who purchased shares during the Relevant Time Period.	On March 1, 2012, the Directors of the Company and Mr. Bautista were named as defendants in a purported derivative action lawsuit brought on behalf of the Company by a stockholder in District Court in Harris County, Texas (the "March Harris County Lawsuit").	On April 10, 2012, a second purported class-action lawsuit was filed against the same defendants in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, brought on behalf of shareholders who purchased or sold CARBO Ceramics Inc. option contracts during the Relevant Time Period (the “April SDNY Lawsuit, and collectively with the February SDNY Lawsuit, the “Federal Securities Lawsuit”)	On February 9, 2012, the Company and two of its officers, Gary A. Kolstad and Ernesto Bautista III, were named as defendants in a purported class-action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (the "February SDNY Lawsuit"), brought on behalf of shareholders who purchased the Company's Common Stock between October 27, 2011 and January 26, 2012 (the "Relevant Time Period").
Name of defendant		The Directors of the Company and Mr. Bautista	The Company and two of its officers, Gary A. Kolstad and Ernesto Bautista III	The Directors of the Company and Mr. Bautista	The Company and two of its officers, Gary A. Kolstad and Ernesto Bautista III	The Company and two of its officers, Gary A. Kolstad and Ernesto Bautista III
Name of plaintiff		Stockholder in District Court in Harris County, Texas	Shareholders who purchased the Company's Common Stock during the Relevant Time Period	Stockholder in District Court in Harris County, Texas	Shareholders who purchased or sold CARBO Ceramics Inc. option contracts during the Relevant Time Period	Shareholders who purchased the Company's Common Stock between October 27, 2011 and January 26, 2012
Laws affected		This lawsuit alleges substantially similar claims as the March Harris County Lawsuit as well as a breach of duty against certain defendants in connection with stock sales. This lawsuit also requests unspecified damages and costs.	This lawsuit alleged substantially similar claims as the February SDNY Lawsuit and requested unspecified damages and costs. In June 2012, this lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice.	The suit alleges various breaches of fiduciary duty and other duties by the defendants that generally are related to the February SDNY Lawsuit, and requests unspecified damages and costs.	The suit alleges violations of the federal securities laws arising from statements concerning the Company’s business operations and business prospects that were made during the Relevant Time Period and requests unspecified damages and costs.	The suit alleges violations of the federal securities laws arising from statements concerning the Company's business operations and business prospects that were made during the Relevant Time Period and requests unspecified damages and costs.
Number of officers named as defendants						2
Number of lawsuits	1
Settlement agreement		The parties to this lawsuit have also entered into an agreement to stay further proceedings pending the outcome of a motion to dismiss the Federal Securities Lawsuit.		The parties to this lawsuit have entered into an agreement to stay further proceedings pending the outcome of a motion to dismiss the Federal Securities Lawsuit.