CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 46,917,770	$ 36,912,779	$ 88,285,965	$ 71,683,393
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	36,796,258	31,466,029	71,841,409	62,167,583
Gross profit	10,121,512	5,446,750	16,444,556	9,515,810
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	5,364,591	5,359,897	11,010,033	10,589,734
Depreciation and amortization	1,733,076	1,645,030	3,427,175	3,245,090
Total operating expenses	7,097,667	7,004,927	14,437,208	13,834,824
Income (loss) from operations	3,023,845	(1,558,177)	2,007,348	(4,319,014)
Other income (expense):
Interest income	659	2,277	659	4,229
Gain (loss) on sale of assets	8,843	(26,399)	51,523	(39,499)
Gain (loss) on change in value of derivative warrant liability	475,913	384,769	44,162	1,305,441
Interest expense	(847,456)	(618,448)	(1,649,971)	(1,954,935)
Total other income (expense)	(362,041)	(257,801)	(1,553,627)	(684,764)
Income (loss) before income tax	2,661,804	(1,815,978)	453,721	(5,003,778)
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	2,661,804	(1,815,978)	453,721	(5,003,778)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	131,736	51,528	182,275	60,136
Net income (loss) attributable to Vertex Energy, Inc.	2,530,068	(1,867,506)	271,446	(5,063,914)
Accretion of discount on Series B and B-1 Preferred Stock	(470,825)	(410,097)	(928,678)	(843,298)
Accrual of dividends on Series B and B-1 Preferred Stock	(620,069)	(418,571)	(1,359,423)	(836,208)
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$ 1,439,174	$ (2,696,174)	$ (2,016,655)	$ (6,743,420)
Income (loss) per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.03	$ (0.08)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.21)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.03	$ (0.08)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.21)
Shares used in computing earnings per share
Basic (in shares)	33,300,456	32,350,218	33,182,748	32,650,347
Diluted (in shares)	37,013,651	32,350,218	33,182,748	32,650,347