CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 21,374,127	$ 43,657,292	$ 57,577,556	$ 82,978,004
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	22,197,805	36,515,421	49,034,659	71,359,770
Gross profit (loss)	(823,678)	7,141,871	8,542,897	11,618,234
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	6,030,560	6,028,859	12,731,078	11,376,600
Depreciation and amortization	1,713,461	1,780,890	3,348,008	3,517,903
Total operating expenses	7,744,021	7,809,749	16,079,086	14,894,503
Loss from operations	(8,567,699)	(667,878)	(7,536,189)	(3,276,269)
Other income (expense):
Other income	20	1,918	100	1,918
Gain on sale of assets	12,344	29,150	12,344	31,443
Gain (loss) on change in value of derivative warrant liability	(110,965)	746,017	1,587,782	(959,077)
Interest expense	(222,173)	(738,972)	(562,259)	(1,496,775)
Total other income (expense)	(320,774)	38,113	1,037,967	(2,422,491)
Loss before income tax	(8,888,473)	(629,765)	(6,498,222)	(5,698,760)
Income tax benefit (expense)	0	0	0	0
Net loss	(8,888,473)	(629,765)	(6,498,222)	(5,698,760)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest and redeemable non-controlling interest	109,165	(202,329)	(289,444)	(307,760)
Net loss attributable to Vertex Energy, Inc.	(8,997,638)	(427,436)	(6,208,778)	(5,391,000)
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest to redemption value	(1,381,889)	0	(12,348,238)	0
Accretion of discount on Series B and B1 Preferred Stock	(539,235)	(532,925)	(1,471,238)	(1,093,600)
Dividends on Series B and B1 Preferred Stock	(360,217)	(412,875)	(704,716)	(819,670)
Net loss available to common shareholders	$ (11,278,979)	$ (1,373,236)	$ (20,732,970)	$ (7,304,270)
Loss per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.25)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.46)	$ (0.18)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.25)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.46)	$ (0.18)
Shares used in computing earnings per share
Basic (in shares)	45,554,841	40,294,870	45,463,600	40,245,671
Diluted (in shares)	45,554,841	40,294,870	45,463,600	40,245,671