Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Condensed Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ 32,556	$ 22,665
Cost of sales	26,455	31,595
Gross profit (loss)	6,101	(8,930)
Total operating expenses	20,013	21,199
Loss from operations	(13,912)	(30,129)
Interest expense, net	(4,464)	(4,734)
Intercompany interest, net	0	0
Equity in losses of investments	0	0
Other income (expense)	(5,068)	120
Loss before income taxes	(23,444)	(34,743)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(418)	293
Net loss	(23,026)	(35,036)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(316)	22
Net loss attributable to ION	(23,342)	(35,014)
Comprehensive net loss	(22,509)	(36,498)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(316)	22
Comprehensive net loss attributable to ION	(22,825)	(36,476)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | ION Geophysical Corporation [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	0	0
Cost of sales	0	0
Gross profit (loss)	0	0
Total operating expenses	9,340	7,411
Loss from operations	(9,340)	(7,411)
Interest expense, net	(4,460)	(4,693)
Intercompany interest, net	328	232
Equity in losses of investments	(5,044)	(23,135)
Other income (expense)	(4,759)	26
Loss before income taxes	(23,275)	(34,981)
Income tax expense (benefit)	67	33
Net loss	(23,342)	(35,014)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net loss attributable to ION	(23,342)	(35,014)
Comprehensive net loss	(22,825)	(36,498)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Comprehensive net loss attributable to ION	(22,825)	(36,498)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | The Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	13,034	11,162
Cost of sales	17,587	21,427
Gross profit (loss)	(4,553)	(10,265)
Total operating expenses	6,159	7,816
Loss from operations	(10,712)	(18,081)
Interest expense, net	(27)	(70)
Intercompany interest, net	(1,497)	(1,017)
Equity in losses of investments	8,776	(1,808)
Other income (expense)	(339)	(359)
Loss before income taxes	(3,799)	(21,335)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(42)	253
Net loss	(3,757)	(21,588)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net loss attributable to ION	(3,757)	(21,588)
Comprehensive net loss	(3,805)	(21,588)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Comprehensive net loss attributable to ION	(3,805)	(21,588)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | All Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	19,522	11,501
Cost of sales	8,868	10,166
Gross profit (loss)	10,654	1,335
Total operating expenses	4,514	5,972
Loss from operations	6,140	(4,637)
Interest expense, net	23	29
Intercompany interest, net	1,169	785
Equity in losses of investments	0	0
Other income (expense)	30	453
Loss before income taxes	7,362	(3,370)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(443)	7
Net loss	7,805	(3,377)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(316)	22
Net loss attributable to ION	7,489	(3,355)
Comprehensive net loss	8,054	(4,839)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(316)	22
Comprehensive net loss attributable to ION	7,738	(4,817)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	0	2
Cost of sales	0	2
Gross profit (loss)	0	0
Total operating expenses	0	0
Loss from operations	0	0
Interest expense, net	0	0
Intercompany interest, net	0	0
Equity in losses of investments	(3,732)	24,943
Other income (expense)	0	0
Loss before income taxes	(3,732)	24,943
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	0
Net loss	(3,732)	24,943
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net loss attributable to ION	(3,732)	24,943
Comprehensive net loss	(3,933)	26,427
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Comprehensive net loss attributable to ION	$ (3,933)	$ 26,427