CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 34,770,614	$ 14,132,604
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below)	30,701,554	14,371,128
Gross profit (loss)	4,069,060	(238,524)
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	5,229,837	5,495,987
Depreciation and amortization	1,600,060	1,642,960
Total operating expenses	6,829,897	7,138,947
Loss from operations	(2,760,837)	(7,377,471)
Other income (expense):
Interest income	1,952	476
Gain (loss) on sale of assets	(13,100)	9,701,834
Gain (loss) on change in value of derivative liability	920,672	(1,986,320)
Gain (loss) on futures contracts	0	55,916
Interest expense	(1,336,487)	(1,915,492)
Total other income (expense)	(426,963)	5,856,414
Loss before income tax	(3,187,800)	(1,521,057)
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	117,646
Net loss	(3,187,800)	(1,403,411)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	8,607	0
Net loss attributable to Vertex Energy, Inc.	(3,196,407)	(1,403,411)
Accretion of discount on Series B and B-1 Preferred Stock	(433,201)	(386,658)
Accrual of dividends on Series B and B-1 Preferred Stock	(417,636)	(373,705)
Net loss available to common shareholders	$ (4,047,244)	$ (2,163,774)
Loss per common share
Basic (in USD per share)	$ (0.12)	$ (0.07)
Diluted (in USD per share)	$ (0.12)	$ (0.07)
Shares used in computing earnings per share
Basic (shares)	32,953,812	29,304,722
Diluted (shares)	32,953,812	29,304,722