Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Nov. 09, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
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	Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 469,749,193
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		92,685,274
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2016