CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 32,470,451	$ 28,461,930	$ 104,153,844	$ 67,022,978
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below)	28,390,891	22,462,171	90,579,044	56,001,697
Gross profit (loss)	4,079,560	5,999,759	13,574,800	11,021,281
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	5,690,761	5,025,221	16,280,495	15,285,142
Depreciation and amortization	1,697,821	1,560,562	4,942,911	4,707,801
Total operating expenses	7,388,582	6,585,783	21,223,406	19,992,943
Loss from operations	(3,309,022)	(586,024)	(7,648,606)	(8,971,662)
Other income (expense):
Interest income	1,519	1,490	5,748	4,452
Gain (loss) on sale of assets	25,693	(68,799)	(13,806)	9,633,034
Gain (loss) on change in value of derivative liability	1,371,461	1,065,217	2,676,902	724,185
Gain (loss) on futures contracts	(305,570)	(90,061)	(285,000)	(351,820)
Interest expense	(733,459)	(399,545)	(2,688,394)	(2,721,056)
Total other income (expense)	359,644	508,302	(304,550)	7,288,795
Loss before income tax	(2,949,378)	(77,722)	(7,953,156)	(1,682,867)
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	0	0	117,646
Net loss	(2,949,378)	(77,722)	(7,953,156)	(1,565,221)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	34,554	30,234	94,690	(11,193)
Net loss attributable to Vertex Energy, Inc.	(2,983,932)	(107,956)	(8,047,846)	(1,554,028)
Accretion of discount on Series B and B-1 Preferred Stock	(424,480)	(435,134)	(1,267,778)	(1,293,669)
Accrual of dividends on Series B and B-1 Preferred Stock	(420,713)	(504,474)	(1,256,921)	(6,695,506)
Net loss available to common shareholders	$ (3,829,125)	$ (1,047,564)	$ (10,572,545)	$ (9,543,203)
Loss per common share
Basic (in USD per share)	$ (0.12)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.32)	$ (0.32)
Diluted (in USD per share)	$ (0.12)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.32)	$ (0.32)
Shares used in computing earnings per share
Basic (shares)	32,655,135	30,576,485	32,651,961	29,884,836
Diluted (shares)	32,655,135	30,576,485	32,651,961	29,884,836