Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	IAL	IPI	Common Stock	Common Stock IAL	Common Stock IPI	Treasury Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Additional Paid-in Capital IAL	Additional Paid-in Capital IPI	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	Non-controlling Interests
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 306,354			$ 5			$ (495)	$ 254,233			$ (502)	$ 52,762	$ 351
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014				54,634,000			449,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net loss	(13,462)											(13,462)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(735)										(735)
Stock issued under employee stock purchase plan	879							879
Stock issued under employee stock purchase plan (in shares)							(77,000)
Common stock issued in payment of accrued liability	0
Stock options exercised	1,372			$ 1				1,371
Stock options exercised (in shares)				768,000
Restricted stock granted (in shares)				758,000
Restricted stock forfeited (in shares)							33,000
Treasury stock purchased	$ (6,345)						$ (6,345)
Treasury stock purchased (in shares)	473,304						473,000
Stock surrendered for exercise of stock options	$ (1,332)						$ (1,332)
Stock surrendered for exercise of stock options (in shares)	106,810						107,000
Excess tax benefit related to share-based awards	$ 1,273							1,273
Stock compensation expense	14,681							14,681
Investment in Flotek Gulf, LLC and Flotek Gulf Research, LLC	7												7
Stock issued in acquisition		$ 1,014							$ 1,014
Stock issued in acquisition (in shares)					60,000
Repurchase of common stock	(9,697)						$ (9,697)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)							800,000
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2015	294,009			$ 6			$ (17,869)	273,451			(1,237)	39,300	358
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015				56,220,000			1,785,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net loss	(49,130)											(49,130)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	281										281
Sale of common stock, net of issuance cost	$ 30,090							30,090
Sale of common stock, net of issuance cost (in shares)	2,450,339			2,450,000
Stock issued under employee stock purchase plan	$ 833							833
Stock issued under employee stock purchase plan (in shares)							(93,000)
Common stock issued in payment of accrued liability	0
Stock options exercised	$ 184							184
Stock options exercised (in shares)	114,112			114,000
Restricted stock granted (in shares)	632,240			653,000
Restricted stock forfeited (in shares)							96,000
Treasury stock purchased	$ (2,350)						$ (2,350)
Treasury stock purchased (in shares)	238,216						238,000
Stock surrendered for exercise of stock options	$ (50)						$ (50)
Stock surrendered for exercise of stock options (in shares)	3,225						3,000
Reduction in tax benefit related to share-based awards	$ (2,510)							(2,510)
Stock compensation expense	$ 13,076							13,076
Stock issued in acquisition			$ 3,268							$ 3,268
Stock issued in acquisition (in shares)	247,764					248,000
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 287,701			$ 6			$ (20,269)	318,392			(956)	(9,830)	358
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016				59,685,000			2,029,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net loss	(27,395)											(27,395)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	$ 72										72
Sale of common stock, net of issuance cost (in shares)	0
Stock issued under employee stock purchase plan	$ 654							654
Stock issued under employee stock purchase plan (in shares)							(113,000)
Common stock issued in payment of accrued liability	188							188
Stock options exercised	$ 5,884							5,884
Stock options exercised (in shares)	663,288			663,000
Restricted stock granted (in shares)	275,029			275,000
Restricted stock forfeited (in shares)							122,000
Treasury stock purchased	$ (1,729)						$ (1,729)
Treasury stock purchased (in shares)	199,644						200,000
Stock surrendered for exercise of stock options	$ (5,863)						$ (5,863)
Stock surrendered for exercise of stock options (in shares)	478,287						478,000
Stock compensation expense	$ 10,949							10,949
Stock issued in acquisition (in shares)	0
Repurchase of common stock	$ (5,203)						$ (5,203)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)							905,000
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 265,258			$ 6			$ (33,064)	$ 336,067			$ (884)	$ (37,225)	$ 358
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017				60,623,000			3,621,000