Stock-Based Compensation - Phantom Unit Activity (Narratives) (Details) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) shares
Partnership Phantom Units
Unrecognized compensation
Expected unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested awards (in dollars) \| $	$ 1.9
Weighted-average period over which the expected unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options will be recognized	2 years 1 month 6 days
Exterran Partners, L.P. \| Partnership Plan
Stock-Based Compensation
Maximum number of shares available under the Plan \| shares	1,035,378
Exterran Partners, L.P. \| Partnership Plan \| Partnership Phantom Units \| First anniversary vesting
Stock-Based Compensation
Vesting percentage	33.33%
Exterran Partners, L.P. \| Partnership Plan \| Partnership Phantom Units \| Second anniversary vesting
Stock-Based Compensation
Vesting percentage	33.33%
Exterran Partners, L.P. \| Partnership Plan \| Partnership Phantom Units \| Third anniversary vesting
Stock-Based Compensation
Vesting percentage	33.33%
Vesting period	3 years

Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based awards, other than options, awarded to employees as compensation.

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Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

Percentage of vesting of share-based compensation awards.

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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