Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 119,353,000	$ 177,773,000	$ 243,106,000
Costs and expenses:
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization)	149,225,000	159,808,000	188,744,000
Corporate general and administrative	27,975,000	31,467,000	41,492,000
Depreciation and amortization	8,465,000	9,216,000	9,768,000
Research and development	8,863,000	10,356,000	13,130,000
(Gain) loss on disposal of long-lived assets	1,450,000	(443,000)	292,000
Impairment of goodwill	0	37,180,000	0
Total costs and expenses	195,978,000	247,584,000	253,426,000
Loss from operations	(76,625,000)	(69,811,000)	(10,320,000)
Other (expense) income:
Interest expense	(2,019,000)	(2,866,000)	(2,168,000)
Loss on sale of business	0	(360,000)	0
Loss on write-down of assets held for sale	0	(2,580,000)	0
Other (expense) income, net	1,708,000	(5,040,000)	1,096,000
Total other expense	(311,000)	(10,846,000)	(1,072,000)
Loss before income taxes	(76,936,000)	(80,657,000)	(11,392,000)
Income tax benefit (expense)	201,000	7,216,000	(6,112,000)
Loss from continuing operations	(76,735,000)	(73,441,000)	(17,504,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	44,456,000	2,743,000	(9,891,000)
Net loss	(32,279,000)	(70,698,000)	(27,395,000)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	358,000	0
Net loss attributable to Flotek Industries, Inc. (Flotek)	(32,279,000)	(70,340,000)	(27,395,000)
Amounts attributable to Flotek shareholders:
Loss from continuing operations	(76,735,000)	(73,083,000)	(17,504,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 44,456,000	$ 2,743,000	$ (9,891,000)
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (1.31)	$ (1.26)	$ (0.30)
Discontinued operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	0.76	0.05	(0.17)
Basic earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	(0.55)	(1.21)	(0.47)
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	(1.31)	(1.26)	(0.30)
Discontinued operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	0.76	0.05	(0.17)
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.55)	$ (1.21)	$ (0.47)
Weighted average common shares:
Weighted average common shares used in computing basic earnings (loss) per common share (in shares)	58,750	57,995	57,580
Weighted average common shares used in computing diluted earnings (loss) per common share (in shares)	58,750	57,995	57,580