Long-Term Debt - Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan (Narrative) (Details)
1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Apr. 22, 2016
USD ($)
Nov. 03, 2015
USD ($)
Oct. 05, 2015
USD ($)
Jul. 10, 2015
USD ($)
Nov. 30, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Net proceeds from borrowings transferred           $ 49,176,000 $ 532,578,000 $ 0
Credit Agreement                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Borrowing capacity     $ 925,000,000.0 $ 750,000,000.0        
Term loan, annual principal payment       $ 12,300,000        
Total debt to EDITDA ratio on last day of fiscal quarter           3.75    
Total debt to EBITDA ratio following completion of qualified capital raise           4.5    
Revolving credit facility | Credit Agreement                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Borrowing capacity     $ 680,000,000          
Indebtedness incurred   $ 300,000,000            
Outstanding borrowings           $ 118,000,000    
Outstanding letters of credit           57,100,000    
Undrawn capacity           504,900,000    
Amount available for additional borrowings           $ 226,900,000    
Interest rate increase until first anniversary (as a percent)     1.00%          
Interest rate increase following first anniversary (as a percent)     1.50%          
Weighted average annual interest rate           5.00% 3.10%  
Percent of voting equity interests securing EESLP's obligations     65.00%          
Term loan facility | Credit Agreement                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Borrowing capacity     $ 245,000,000          
Indebtedness incurred   245,000,000            
Borrowings outstanding repaid         $ 12,300,000      
Principal amount classified as long-term           $ 232,800,000    
Annual interest rate           6.80% 6.80%  
Minimum total leverage ratio requiring Exterran to prepay borrowings outstanding     2.50          
Term loan facility | Credit Agreement | Scenario One                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Minimum total leverage ratio requiring Exterran to prepay borrowings outstanding     3.00          
Excess Cash Flow required (as a percent)     50.00%          
Term loan facility | Credit Agreement | Scenario Two                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Minimum total leverage ratio requiring Exterran to prepay borrowings outstanding     2.50          
Excess Cash Flow required (as a percent)     25.00%          
Maximum leverage ratio requiring Exterran to prepay borrowings outstanding     3.00          
Archrock | EESLP | Credit Agreement                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Net proceeds from borrowings transferred   $ 532,600,000            
LIBOR | Credit Agreement                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Basis spread on variable rate 2.75%              
LIBOR | Minimum | Revolving credit facility | Credit Agreement                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Basis spread on variable rate     1.50%          
LIBOR | Minimum | Term loan facility | Credit Agreement                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Basis spread on variable rate     1.00%          
LIBOR | Maximum | Revolving credit facility | Credit Agreement                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Basis spread on variable rate     2.75%          
LIBOR | Maximum | Term loan facility | Credit Agreement                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Basis spread on variable rate     5.75%          
Base Rate | Credit Agreement                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Basis spread on variable rate 1.75%              
Base Rate | Term loan facility | Credit Agreement                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Basis spread on variable rate     4.75%          
Base Rate | Minimum | Revolving credit facility | Credit Agreement                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Basis spread on variable rate     0.50%          
Base Rate | Maximum | Revolving credit facility | Credit Agreement                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Basis spread on variable rate     1.75%          
Federal funds effective rate | Revolving credit facility | Credit Agreement                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Basis spread on variable rate     0.50%          
One-month LIBOR | Revolving credit facility | Credit Agreement                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Basis spread on variable rate     1.00%          
Amended Credit Agreement | Maximum | Credit Agreement                
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                
Maximum cash balance of group members $ 30,000,000