Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	May 15, 2013
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Trading Symbol	ARET
Entity Registrant Name	ARETE INDUSTRIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000820901
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		7,979,801