Basis of Presentation and Nature of Operations (Policies)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Basic Energy Services, Inc. and subsidiaries (“Basic” or the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements. Certain information relating to our organization and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q in accordance with GAAP and financial statement requirements promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The notes to the consolidated financial statements (unaudited) should be read in conjunction with the notes to the consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. In the opinion of management, all adjustments which are of a normal recurring nature considered necessary for a fair presentation have been made in the accompanying unaudited financial statements.
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Basic and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Basic has no variable interest in any non-consolidated organization, entity, partnership or contract. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.
Accounting Estimates	Accounting Estimates and Assumptions Preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. Critical accounting estimates are those in which significant judgment is used, and the impact of any changes in estimates would have a significant effect on our consolidated financial statements. Actual results and outcomes may vary from management's estimates and assumptions. Examples of critical accounting estimates and assumptions include: •Assets lives used to determine depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and intangible assets; •Fair value of property and equipment and intangible assets; •Allowance for doubtful accounts; •Litigation and self-insured risk reserves; •Stock-based compensation; and •Potential outcome of income tax events that have been recognized on our consolidated financial statements or returns.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	ASU 2014-09 - “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)" represents a comprehensive revenue recognition standard to supersede existing revenue recognition guidance and align GAAP more closely with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The core principle of the new guidance is that a company should recognize revenue to match the delivery of goods or services to customers to the consideration the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard creates a five step model that requires companies to exercise judgment when considering the terms of a contract and all relevant facts and circumstances. The standard allows for two transition methods: (a) a full retrospective adoption in which the standard is applied to all of the periods presented subject to certain practical expedients, or (b) a modified retrospective adoption in which the standard is applied only to the most current period presented in the financial statements, and which includes additional disclosures regarding the change in accounting principle in the current period. We plan to adopt the standard using the full retrospective method to restate each prior period presented. The standard will be effective for Basic beginning January 1, 2018. In preparation to adopt the standard, we are performing a detailed review of key contracts with customers which are representative of our revenue streams. While we are still in the process of performing the review and analysis of our contracts to support our assessments, the substantial majority of our services are performed at a point in time, revenue is recognized at the time of performance, and this is expected remain unchanged. We do not incur significant contract costs. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 - “Leases (Topic 842).” The purpose of this update is to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. This update is effective for Basic in annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Basic has begun a project to identify all operating leases greater than one year and implementing new leasing software to track operating and capital leases. Basic expects to recognize additional right-of-use assets and liabilities related to operating leases with terms longer than one year. In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15-"Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments." This standard is effective for Basic for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The amendments in this update are intended to clarify cash flow treatment of certain cash flows with the objective of reducing diversity in practice. Basic intends to adopt this standard as of January 1, 2018, and does not expect significant changes to the cash flow statement as a result. In November 2016 the FASB issued ASU 2016-18- "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash," which clarifies the treatment of cash inflows into and cash payments from restricted cash. Restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period amounts shown on the statements of cash flows. The amendments of this ASU should be applied using a retrospective transition method and are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Basic intends to adopt this standard as of January 1, 2018, and does not expect significant changes to the cash flow statement as a result.