CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 39,320,712	$ 41,368,195
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	34,844,349	35,045,151
Gross profit	4,476,363	6,323,044
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	5,347,741	5,645,442
Depreciation and amortization	1,737,013	1,694,099
Total operating expenses	7,084,754	7,339,541
Loss from operations	(2,608,391)	(1,016,497)
Other income (expense):
Gain on sale of assets	2,293	42,680
Loss on change in value of derivative warrant liability	(1,705,094)	(431,751)
Interest expense	(757,803)	(802,515)
Total other expense	(2,460,604)	(1,191,586)
Loss before income tax	(5,068,995)	(2,208,083)
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	0
Net loss	(5,068,995)	(2,208,083)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	(105,431)	50,539
Loss attributable to Vertex Energy, Inc.	(4,963,564)	(2,258,622)
Accretion of discount on Series B and B1 Preferred Stock	(560,675)	(642,290)
Dividends on Series B and B1 Preferred Stock	(406,795)	(554,917)
Loss available to common shareholders	$ (5,931,034)	$ (3,455,829)
Loss per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.10)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.10)
Shares used in computing earnings per share
Basic (in shares)	40,195,925	33,063,732
Diluted (in shares)	40,195,925	33,063,732