Legal Proceedings and Regulatory Matters - Additional Information (Detail)	1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012 LegalMatter	Jun. 13, 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 purported derivative action lawsuit brought on behalf of the Company by a stockholder in District Court in Harris County, Texas.	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 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 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. Response and reply briefs on this motion were filed during the fourth quarter of 2012, and a decision from the Court is pending.	In September 2012, the Company and Messrs. Kolstad and Bautista filed a motion to dismiss this lawsuit. Response and reply briefs on this motion were filed during the fourth quarter of 2012, and a decision from the Court is pending.
Laws affected		The Federal Securities Lawsuit 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 various breaches of fiduciary duty and other duties by the defendants that generally are related to the Federal Securities Lawsuit, as well as a breach of duty by certain defendants in connection with stock sales.	The Federal Securities Lawsuit 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 Federal Securities Lawsuit 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			This lawsuit requests unspecified damages and costs, and has been stayed pending the outcome of a motion to dismiss the Federal Securities Lawsuit.