CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 258,904,867	$ 161,967,252	$ 134,573,243
Cost of revenues	244,292,715	145,628,215	124,788,116
Gross profit	14,612,152	16,339,037	9,785,127
Reduction of contingent consideration	(5,248,588)	(2,238,750)	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	26,073,782	11,472,842	6,137,301
Acquisition related expenses	3,813,668	53,742	1,256,576
Inventory impairment charge	467,911	0	0
Total selling, general and administrative expenses	25,106,773	9,287,834	7,393,877
Income (loss) from operations	(10,494,621)	7,051,203	2,391,250
Other income (expense)
Other income	333,612	37,696	1,740
Gain on bargain purchase	6,948,686	0	0
Other expense	(10,866)	(54,513)	0
Interest expense	(2,636,690)	(422,954)	(135,364)
Total other income (expense)	4,634,742	(439,771)	(133,624)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(5,859,879)	6,611,432	2,257,626
Income tax benefit (expense)	(11,763)	1,700,000	1,400,641
Net income (loss)	(5,871,642)	8,311,432	3,658,267
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	325,399	(431,962)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex Energy, Inc.	$ (5,546,243)	$ 7,879,470	$ 3,658,267
Earnings per common share
Basic (in USD per share)	$ (0.23)	$ 0.44	$ 0.30
Diluted (in USD per share)	$ (0.23)	$ 0.39	$ 0.25
Shares used in computing earnings per share
Basic (in shares)	23,807,780	17,830,194	12,138,229
Diluted (in shares)	23,807,780	20,182,829	14,866,134