Cover - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Aug. 03, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-12691
Entity Registrant Name	ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION
Entity Incorporation, State	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	22-2286646
Entity Address, Street	2105 CityWest Blvd
Entity Address, Suite	Suite 100
Entity Address, City	Houston
Entity Address, State	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	77042
City Area Code	281
Local Phone Number	933-3339
Title of each class	Common Stock, $0.01 par value
Trading symbol(s)	IO
Name of each exchange on which registered	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		15,006,160
Entity Central Index Key	0000866609
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31