CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 98,078,914	$ 146,942,461
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below)	81,759,814	136,246,273
Gross profit	16,319,100	10,696,188
Reduction of contingent liability	0	(6,069,000)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	19,966,426	24,046,464
Depreciation and amortization	6,277,215	6,636,593
Acquisition related expenses	187,973	175,172
Total selling, general and administrative expenses	26,431,614	24,789,229
Loss from operations	(10,112,514)	(14,093,041)
Other income (expense):
Provision for doubtful accounts	0	(654,820)
Goodwill impairment	0	(4,922,353)
Other income (expense)	5,974	(4,446)
Gain (loss) on sale of assets	9,631,712	13,944
Gain on change in value of derivative liability	49,876	5,479,463
Realized gain (loss) on futures contracts	(548,380)	551,090
Interest expense	(3,094,956)	(3,580,726)
Total other income (expense)	6,044,226	(3,117,848)
Loss before income taxes	(4,068,288)	(17,210,889)
Income tax benefit (expense)	117,646	(5,306,000)
Net loss	(3,950,642)	(22,516,889)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest	2,179	0
Net loss attributable to Vertex Energy, Inc.	(3,952,821)	(22,516,889)
Accretion of discount on series B and B-1 Preferred Stock	(1,762,378)	(805,742)
Accrual of dividends on series B and B-1 Preferred Stock and retirement of a portion of Series B and B-1 Preferred discount	(9,822,196)	(780,069)
Net loss available to common shareholders	$ (15,537,395)	$ (24,102,700)
Earnings per common share
Basic (in USD per share)	$ (0.51)	$ (0.86)
Diluted (in USD per share)	$ (0.51)	$ (0.86)
Shares used in computing earnings per share
Basic (in shares)	30,520,820	28,181,096
Diluted (in shares)	30,520,820	28,181,096