Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Aug. 07, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	TETRA TECHNOLOGIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000844965
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 911,481,175
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		80,192,311
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2015