Legal Proceedings - Additional Information (Detail)	1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012 LegalMatter	Jun. 13, 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 (the “June Harris County Lawsuit”).	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 Company and Messrs. Kolstad and Bautista		The Directors of the Company and Mr. Bautista	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	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
Number of officers named as defendants						2
Number of lawsuits		1
Suit Consolidation					In June 2012, the February SNDY Lawsuit and the April SDNY Lawsuit were consolidated, and will now proceed as one lawsuit.	In June 2012, the February SNDY Lawsuit and the April SDNY Lawsuit were consolidated, and will now proceed as one lawsuit.
Actions Taken by Defendant					In September 2012, the Company and Messrs. Kolstad and Bautista filed a motion to dismiss this lawsuit, which is expected to be considered by the court after response and reply briefs are filed by the parties during the fourth quarter of 2012.	In September 2012, the Company and Messrs. Kolstad and Bautista filed a motion to dismiss this lawsuit, which is expected to be considered by the court after response and reply briefs are filed by the parties during the fourth quarter of 2012.
Laws affected		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.	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.	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.
Settlement agreement			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.	In September 2012, this lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice.