CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 14,132,604	$ 37,684,339
Cost of revenues	14,371,128	38,008,456
Gross loss	(238,524)	(324,117)
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses (exclusive of acquisition related expenses)	5,495,987	5,370,028
Depreciation and amortization expense	1,593,584	1,556,982
Acquisition related expenses	49,376	157,678
Total operating expenses	7,138,947	7,084,688
Loss from operations	(7,377,471)	(7,408,805)
Other income (expense):
Provision for doubtful accounts	0	(2,650,000)
Interest income	476	8
Gain (loss) on sale of assets	9,701,834	(70,478)
Loss on change in value of derivative liability	(1,986,320)	0
Gain on futures contracts	55,916	0
Interest expense	(1,915,492)	(1,531,180)
Total other income (expense)	5,856,414	(4,251,650)
Loss before income tax	(1,521,057)	(11,660,455)
Income tax benefit/(expense)	117,646	(5,306,000)
Net loss	(1,403,411)	(16,966,455)
Net loss attributable to Vertex Energy, Inc.	(1,403,411)	(16,966,455)
Accretion of discount on Series B Preferred Stock	(386,658)	0
Accrual of dividends on Series B Preferred Stock	(373,705)	0
Net loss available to common shareholders	$ (2,163,774)	$ (16,966,455)
Loss per common share
Basic (in USD per share)	$ (0.07)	$ (0.60)
Diluted (in USD per share)	$ (0.07)	$ (0.60)
Shares used in computing earnings per share
Basic (shares)	29,304,722	28,118,396
Diluted (shares)	29,304,722	28,118,396