Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 16, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Document And Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	Vertex Energy Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0000890447
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Is Entity a Well-known Seasoned Issuer?	No
Is Entity a Voluntary Filer?	No
Is Entity's Reporting Status Current?	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Public Float			$ 11,524,532
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		9,443,921
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011