Represents the number of days after quarter end when cash distributions are intended to be made.

No definition available.

Name:	usac_CashDistributionPeriodNumberOfDaysAfterQuarterEnd
Namespace Prefix:	usac_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the amount of non cash distributions paid to a common shareholder or unit-holder by a LLC or LP.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	usac_DistributionMadeToMemberOrLimitedPartnerNonCashDistributionsPaid
Namespace Prefix:	usac_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The minimum quarterly distribution amount per share.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	usac_PartnersCapitalMinimumQuarterlyDistributionAmountPerShare
Namespace Prefix:	usac_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the period for determining prorated quarterly cash distribution rate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	usac_PeriodForDeterminingProratedQuarterlyCashDistributionRate
Namespace Prefix:	usac_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash distribution paid to unit-holder of limited liability company (LLC).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 272

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6373374&loc=d3e70478-108055

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 272

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6373374&loc=d3e70434-108055

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DistributionMadeToLimitedLiabilityCompanyLLCMemberCashDistributionsPaid
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Per unit of ownership amount of cash distributions declared to unit-holder of a limited partnership (LP).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DistributionMadeToLimitedPartnerDistributionsDeclaredPerUnit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Per unit of ownership amount of cash distributions paid to unit-holder of a limited partnership (LP).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DistributionMadeToLimitedPartnerDistributionsPaidPerUnit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DistributionsMadeToMembersOrLimitedPartnersAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage investment held by the managing member or general partner of the limited liability company (LLC) or limited partnership (LP).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 272

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6373374&loc=d3e70478-108055

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LimitedLiabilityCompanyLLCOrLimitedPartnershipLPManagingMemberOrGeneralPartnerOwnershipInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of units or percentage investment held by one or more members or limited partners of the LLC or LP.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LimitedLiabilityCompanyLLCOrLimitedPartnershipLPMembersOrLimitedPartnersOwnershipInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Partners' Capital - Cash Distributions (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended						9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended													9 Months Ended	0 Months Ended						9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended								9 Months Ended			0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Aug. 14, 2014 Cash Distributions	May 15, 2014 Cash Distributions	Feb. 14, 2014 Cash Distributions	Nov. 14, 2013 Cash Distributions	Aug. 14, 2013 Cash Distributions	May 15, 2013 Cash Distributions	Sep. 30, 2014 Cash Distributions Maximum	Sep. 30, 2014 Limited partner Subordinated units	Aug. 14, 2014 Limited partner Subordinated units Cash Distributions	May 15, 2014 Limited partner Subordinated units Cash Distributions	Feb. 14, 2014 Limited partner Subordinated units Cash Distributions	Nov. 14, 2013 Limited partner Subordinated units Cash Distributions	Aug. 14, 2013 Limited partner Subordinated units Cash Distributions	May 15, 2013 Limited partner Subordinated units Cash Distributions	Oct. 23, 2014 Limited partner Common and Subordinated Units Cash Distributions	Aug. 14, 2014 Limited partner Common and Subordinated Units Cash Distributions	May 15, 2014 Limited partner Common and Subordinated Units Cash Distributions	Feb. 14, 2014 Limited partner Common and Subordinated Units Cash Distributions	Nov. 14, 2013 Limited partner Common and Subordinated Units Cash Distributions	Aug. 14, 2013 Limited partner Common and Subordinated Units Cash Distributions	May 15, 2013 Limited partner Common and Subordinated Units Cash Distributions	Sep. 30, 2014 Limited partner Common units	Aug. 14, 2014 Limited partner Common units Cash Distributions	May 15, 2014 Limited partner Common units Cash Distributions	Feb. 14, 2014 Limited partner Common units Cash Distributions	Nov. 14, 2013 Limited partner Common units Cash Distributions	Aug. 14, 2013 Limited partner Common units Cash Distributions	May 15, 2013 Limited partner Common units Cash Distributions	Sep. 30, 2014 General partner	Sep. 30, 2013 General partner	Aug. 14, 2014 General partner Cash Distributions	May 15, 2014 General partner Cash Distributions	Feb. 14, 2014 General partner Cash Distributions	Nov. 14, 2013 General partner Cash Distributions	Aug. 14, 2013 General partner Cash Distributions	May 15, 2013 General partner Cash Distributions	Nov. 14, 2014 USA Compression Holdings, LLC	May 27, 2014 USA Compression Holdings, LLC	Sep. 30, 2014 USA Compression Holdings, LLC Limited partner Subordinated units	Sep. 30, 2014 USA Compression Holdings, LLC Limited partner Common units	Sep. 30, 2014 USA Compression Holdings, LLC General partner	Nov. 14, 2014 Argonaut and related parties Limited partner	Sep. 30, 2014 Argonaut and related parties Limited partner Common units
Cash Distributions
General Partner, interest (as a percent)																													1.70%	2.00%											1.70%
Distribution per Limited Partner Unit (in dollars per share)																$ 0.50	$ 0.49	$ 0.48	$ 0.46	$ 0.44	$ 0.348
Total Distribution	$ 22.6	$ 19.1	$ 18.4	$ 17.4	$ 13.2	$ 10.3			$ 7.0	$ 6.9	$ 6.7	$ 6.5	$ 6.2	$ 4.9									$ 15.1	$ 11.8	$ 11.3	$ 10.6	$ 6.7	$ 5.2			$ 0.5	$ 0.4	$ 0.4	$ 0.3	$ 0.3	$ 0.2
Period for determining prorated quarterly cash distribution rate																					72 days
Minimum Quarterly Distribution (in dollars per unit)																					$ 0.435
Number of days after quarter end when cash distributions are to be made							45 days
Non-cash distributions																																								$ 38.5
Cash distribution announced per unit (in dollars per share)															$ 0.505
Ownership interest (as a percent)								30.80%														67.50%															41.70%	40.60%	30.80%	10.10%		16.20%	16.20%