Legal Proceedings - Additional Information (Detail)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Feb. 09, 2012 Defendant	Mar. 31, 2014
Harris County Lawsuit
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 (the "Harris County Lawsuit").
Name of defendant		The Directors of the Company and Mr. Bautista
Name of plaintiff		Stockholder in District Court in Harris County, Texas
Laws affected		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 lawsuit requests unspecified damages and costs
Federal Securities Lawsuit
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Name of defendant		The Company and Messrs. Kolstad and Bautista
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.
April SDNY Lawsuit
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Law suit filing date		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”).
Name of defendant		The Company and two of its officers, Gary A. Kolstad and Ernesto Bautista III
Name of plaintiff		Shareholders who purchased or sold CARBO Ceramics Inc. option contracts during the Relevant Time Period
Suit Consolidation		In June 2012, the February SNDY Lawsuit and the April SDNY Lawsuit were consolidated.
Actions Taken by Defendant		In September 2012, the Company and Messrs. Kolstad and Bautista filed a motion to dismiss this lawsuit. The motion to dismiss was granted, and the Federal Securities Lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice in June 2013. In September 2013, the plaintiffs filed a motion requesting leave to file a second amended complaint and sustain the lawsuit. In January 2014, the Court denied plaintiffs’ motion, and entered a judgment in favor of the Company and Messrs. Kolstad and Bautista. The plaintiffs did not timely appeal this judgment, and it has become final.
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.
February SDNY Lawsuit
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Law suit filing date		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 two of its officers, Gary A. Kolstad and Ernesto Bautista III
Name of plaintiff		Shareholders who purchased the Company's Common Stock between October 27, 2011 and January 26, 2012
Number of officers named as defendants	2
Suit Consolidation		In June 2012, the February SNDY Lawsuit and the April SDNY Lawsuit were consolidated.
Actions Taken by Defendant		In September 2012, the Company and Messrs. Kolstad and Bautista filed a motion to dismiss this lawsuit. The motion to dismiss was granted, and the Federal Securities Lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice in June 2013. In September 2013, the plaintiffs filed a motion requesting leave to file a second amended complaint and sustain the lawsuit. In January 2014, the Court denied plaintiffs’ motion, and entered a judgment in favor of the Company and Messrs. Kolstad and Bautista. The plaintiffs did not timely appeal this judgment, and it has become final.
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.