Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 21,879,000	$ 53,709,000	$ 99,827,000	$ 134,324,000
Costs and expenses:
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization)	23,689,000	45,647,000	106,593,000	117,848,000
Corporate general and administrative	5,685,000	7,476,000	19,020,000	24,634,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,058,000	2,259,000	6,437,000	6,935,000
Research and development	2,297,000	2,350,000	6,657,000	8,054,000
Loss on disposal of long-lived assets	3,000	57,000	1,096,000	119,000
Impairment of goodwill	0	0	0	37,180,000
Total costs and expenses	33,732,000	57,789,000	139,803,000	194,770,000
Loss from operations	(11,853,000)	(4,080,000)	(39,976,000)	(60,446,000)
Other (expense) income:
Interest expense	(1,000)	(746,000)	(2,014,000)	(1,902,000)
Loss on sale of business	0	(360,000)	0	(360,000)
Loss on write-down of assets held for sale	0	0	0	(2,580,000)
Other income (expense), net	436,000	10,000	1,236,000	(2,599,000)
Total other income (expense)	435,000	(1,096,000)	(778,000)	(7,441,000)
Loss before income taxes	(11,418,000)	(5,176,000)	(40,754,000)	(67,887,000)
Income tax benefit (expense)	191,000	333,000	1,157,000	(15,545,000)
Loss from continuing operations	(11,227,000)	(4,843,000)	(39,597,000)	(83,432,000)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	117,000	911,000	46,881,000	4,176,000
Net income (loss)	(11,110,000)	(3,932,000)	7,284,000	(79,256,000)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	357,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Flotek Industries, Inc. (Flotek)	(11,110,000)	(3,932,000)	7,284,000	(78,899,000)
Amounts attributable to Flotek shareholders:
Loss from continuing operations	(11,227,000)	(4,843,000)	(39,597,000)	(83,075,000)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	117,000	911,000	46,881,000	4,176,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Flotek Industries, Inc. (Flotek)	$ (11,110,000)	$ (3,932,000)	$ 7,284,000	$ (78,899,000)
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.19)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.67)	$ (1.44)
Discontinued operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	0	0.02	0.80	0.07
Basic earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	(0.19)	(0.06)	0.13	(1.37)
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	(0.19)	(0.08)	(0.67)	(1.44)
Discontinued operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	0	0.02	0.80	0.07
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.19)	$ (0.06)	$ 0.13	$ (1.37)
Weighted average common shares:
Weighted average common shares used in computing basic earnings (loss) per common share (in shares)	59,004	58,319	58,725	57,820
Weighted average common shares used in computing diluted earnings (loss) per common share (in shares)	59,004	58,319	58,725	57,820