CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 28,461,930	$ 39,262,584	$ 67,022,978	$ 126,066,634
Cost of revenues	22,462,171	34,104,949	56,001,697	115,748,581
Gross profit	5,999,759	5,157,635	11,021,281	10,318,053
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses (exclusive of acquisition related expenses)	4,978,004	6,052,764	15,162,026	17,064,043
Depreciation and amortization expense	1,560,562	1,597,881	4,707,801	4,716,177
Acquisition related expenses	47,217	5,910	123,116	163,588
Total operating expenses	6,585,783	7,656,555	19,992,943	21,943,808
Loss from operations	(586,024)	(2,498,920)	(8,971,662)	(11,625,755)
Other income (expense):
Provision for doubtful accounts	0	0	0	(2,650,000)
Interest income	1,490	11	4,452	29
Loss on sale of assets	(68,799)	(20,657)	(115,527)	(78,316)
Gain on sale of assets	0	0	9,748,561	0
Gain (loss) on change in value of derivative liability	1,065,217	818,051	724,185	2,635,033
Gain/(loss) on futures contracts	(90,061)	395,430	(351,820)	395,430
Interest expense	(399,545)	(763,791)	(2,721,056)	(2,851,947)
Total other income (expense)	508,302	429,044	7,288,795	(2,549,771)
Loss before income tax	(77,722)	(2,069,876)	(1,682,867)	(14,175,526)
Income tax benefit/(expense)	0	0	117,646	(5,306,000)
Net loss	(77,722)	(2,069,876)	(1,565,221)	(19,481,526)
Net loss/(gain) attributable to non-controlling interest	30,234	0	(11,193)	0
Net loss attributable to Vertex Energy, Inc.	(107,956)	(2,069,876)	(1,554,028)	(19,481,526)
Accretion of discount on Series B and B-1 Preferred Stock	(435,134)	(444,899)	(1,293,669)	(444,899)
Accrual of dividends on Series B and B-1 Preferred Stock and retirement of a portion of Series B Preferred discount	(504,474)	(402,740)	(6,695,506)	(402,740)
Other	0	(55,056)	0	(55,056)
Net loss available to common shareholders	$ (1,047,564)	$ (2,972,571)	$ (9,543,203)	$ (20,384,221)
Loss per common share
Basic (in USD per share)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.11)	$ (0.32)	$ (0.72)
Diluted (in USD per share)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.11)	$ (0.32)	$ (0.72)
Shares used in computing earnings per share
Basic (shares)	30,576,485	28,198,701	29,884,836	28,165,427
Diluted (shares)	30,576,485	28,198,701	29,884,836	28,165,427