Entity Central Index Key Document and entity information. Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Document Type Document Type Amendment Flag Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Trading Symbol Trading Symbol Entity Registrant Name Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding Property plant and equipment net excluding construction in progress. This is a combination of the aggregate sum of gross carrying value of a major finite-lived intangible asset class, less accumulated amortization and any impairment charges plus the carrying value of amounts transferred to third parties for security purposes that are expected to be returned or applied towards payment after one year plus aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of noncurrent assets not separately disclosed in the balance sheet. Earn out consideration current. Earn out consideration noncurrent. Mezzanine equity. Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract] Statement [Table] Statement [Table] Class of Stock Statement Class Of Stock [Axis] Class of Stock Class Of Stock [Domain] Series E Preferred Stock [Member] Series E Preferred Stock [Member] Series A Convertible Preferred Shares [Member] Series A Preferred Stock [Member] Series C Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock [Member] Series C Preferred Stock [Member] Series D Junior Participating Preferred Stock [Member] Series D Preferred Stock [Member] Statement [Line Items] Statement [Line Items] Current assets Assets Current [Abstract] Cash Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value Accounts receivable, including unbilled revenue, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $0 and $500 at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively Accounts Receivable Net Current Inventories Inventory Net Prepaid expenses and other current assets Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets Net Current Other receivables, net Other Receivables Assets of discontinued operations Assets Of Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Current Total current assets Assets Current Property, plant and equipment, net Property Plant And Equipment Net Excluding Construction In Progress Construction in progress Construction In Progress Gross Other assets Other Assets Noncurrent [Abstract] Goodwill Goodwill Intangible assets Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill Debt issuance costs Deferred Finance Costs Noncurrent Net Deposits and other assets Other Assets And Deposits Noncurrent Assets of discontinued operations Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Long Lived Assets Noncurrent Total other assets Other Assets Noncurrent Total assets Assets Current liabilities Liabilities Current [Abstract] Accounts payable Accounts Payable Current Accrued payroll and benefits Employee Related Liabilities Current Accrued liabilities Accrued Liabilities Current Deferred revenue Deferred Revenue Current Current portion of long term debt Long Term Debt Current Accrued interest Interest Payable Current Earn-out consideration Earn Out Consideration Current Other Other Liabilities Current Liabilities of discontinued operations Liabilities Of Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Current Total current liabilities Liabilities Current Long-term liabilities Liabilities Noncurrent [Abstract] Debt Long Term Debt Noncurrent Earn-out consideration Earn Out Consideration Noncurrent Asset retirement obligation Asset Retirement Obligations Noncurrent Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Liabilities Noncurrent Other Other Liabilities Noncurrent Total long-term liabilities Liabilities Noncurrent Total liabilities Liabilities Commitments and contingencies (Note 14) Commitments And Contingencies Mezzanine equity Mezzanine Equity [Abstract] Preferred stock Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Equity Preferred Carrying Amount Stockholders' equity Stockholders Equity [Abstract] Preferred stock Preferred Stock Value Common stock: $.01 par value; 450,000 shares authorized; 230,039 and 229,308 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively Common Stock Value Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock Accumulated deficit Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit Accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Total Rentech stockholders' equity Stockholders Equity Noncontrolling interests Minority Interest Total equity Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Liabilities And Stockholders Equity Allowance for accounts receivable Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current Preferred stock, par value Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share Mezzanine, preferred stock, par value Temporary Equity Par Or Stated Value Per Share Mezzanine, preferred stock, shares authorized Temporary Equity Shares Authorized Mezzanine, preferred stock, shares issued Temporary Equity Shares Issued Mezzanine, preferred stock, shares outstanding Temporary Equity Shares Outstanding Mezzanine, preferred stock, dividend rate Preferred Stock Dividend Rate Percentage Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred Stock Shares Authorized Preferred stock, shares issued Preferred Stock Shares Issued Preferred stock, shares outstanding Preferred Stock Shares Outstanding Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share Preferred Stock Liquidation Preference Common stock, par value Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock Shares Authorized Common stock, shares issued Common Stock Shares Issued Common stock, shares outstanding Common Stock Shares Outstanding Gain loss on fair value adjustments earn out consideration. Loss from continuing operations before equity in net loss of investee company. Income Statement [Abstract] Revenues Sales Revenue Net [Abstract] Product sales Sales Revenue Goods Net Service revenues Sales Revenue Services Net Other revenues Other Sales Revenue Net Total revenues Sales Revenue Net Cost of sales Cost Of Goods And Services Sold [Abstract] Product Cost Of Goods Sold Service Cost Of Services Total cost of sales Cost Of Goods And Services Sold Gross profit Gross Profit Operating expenses Operating Expenses [Abstract] Selling, general and administrative expense Selling General And Administrative Expense Depreciation and amortization Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Pasadena asset impairment Impairment Of Long Lived Assets Held For Use Pasadena goodwill impairment Goodwill Impairment Loss Other (income) expense, net Other Operating Income Expense Net Total operating expenses Operating Expenses Operating loss Operating Income Loss Other expense, net Nonoperating Income Expense [Abstract] Interest expense Interest Income Expense Nonoperating Net Loss on debt extinguishment Gains Losses On Extinguishment Of Debt Gain (loss) on fair value adjustment to earn-out consideration Gain Loss On Fair Value Adjustments Earn Out Consideration Other income, net Other Nonoperating Income Expense Total other expenses, net Nonoperating Income Expense Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in loss of investee Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments Income tax (benefit) expense Income Tax Expense Benefit Loss from continuing operations before equity in loss of investee Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Equity In Net Loss Of Investee Company Equity in loss of investee Income Loss From Equity Method Investments Loss from continuing operations Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Net loss Profit Loss Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Preferred stock dividends Preferred Stock Dividends Income Statement Impact Net loss attributable to Rentech common shareholders Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic Basic: Earnings Per Share Basic [Abstract] Continuing operations Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share Discontinued operations Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share Net loss Earnings Per Share Basic Diluted: Earnings Per Share Diluted [Abstract] Continuing operations Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share Discontinued operations Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share Net loss Earnings Per Share Diluted Weighted-average shares used to compute net loss per common share: Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding [Abstract] Basic Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic Diluted Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Net loss Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Period Increase Decrease [Abstract] Pension and postretirement plan adjustments Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax Foreign currency translation Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax Other comprehensive income (loss) Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Comprehensive loss Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests Less: other comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Comprehensive loss attributable to Rentech Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Statement Of Stockholders Equity [Abstract] Equity Components Statement Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component Equity Component [Domain] Common Stock [Member] Common Stock [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Additional Paid In Capital [Member] Accumulated Deficit [Member] Retained Earnings [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Total Rentech Stockholders' Equity [Member] Parent [Member] Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Beginning balance Beginning balance, Shares Shares Issued Common stock issued for services Stock Issued During Period Value Issued For Services Common stock issued for services, Shares Stock Issued During Period Shares Issued For Services Common stock issued for stock options exercised Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Options Exercised Common stock issued for stock options exercised, Shares Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised Dividends - preferred stock Dividends Preferred Stock Distributions to noncontrolling interests Minority Interest Decrease From Distributions To Noncontrolling Interest Holders Equity-based compensation expense Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value Restricted stock units Stock Issued During Period Value Restricted Stock Award Gross Restricted stock units, Shares Stock Issued During Period Shares Restricted Stock Award Gross Other comprehensive income (loss) Other Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Other Ending balance Ending balance, Shares Gain (loss) on sale of easement. Tangible assets that are held by an entity to reduce the length of possible interruptions in plant operations from an infrastructure breakdown at the entity's plant. The assets may be held for use for many years before the assets are used. As a result, they are capitalized as a fixed asset at cost and are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the useful life of the related equipment until the assets are installed. When the assets are utilized, the net book values of the assets are charged to earnings as a cost of sale. The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the discount of the entity's convertible notes and debt issuance costs on borrowings under the entity's term loan over the term of the related debt. Proceeds from easement payment. Payments For Earn Out Consideration Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities [Abstract] Depreciation and amortization Depreciation And Amortization Gain on sale of easement Gain Loss On Sale Of Easement Utilization of spare parts Utilization Of Spare Parts Write-down of inventory Inventory Write Down Non-cash interest expense Noncash Interest Expense Loss on debt extinguishment Equity-based compensation Share Based Compensation Unrealized net (gain) loss on derivatives Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Other Other Noncash Income Expense Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of amounts acquired: Increase Decrease In Operating Capital [Abstract] Accounts receivable Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable Other receivables Increase Decrease In Other Receivables Inventories Increase Decrease In Inventories Prepaid expenses and other current assets Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets Other assets Increase Decrease In Other Current Assets Accounts payable Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable Deferred revenue Increase Decrease In Deferred Revenue Accrued interest Increase Decrease In Interest Payable Net Accrued liabilities, accrued payroll and other Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities And Other Operating Liabilities Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Cash flows from investing activities Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities [Abstract] Capital expenditures Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment Proceeds from easement Proceeds From Easement Payment Payment for acquisitions, net of cash received Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired Receipt from Insurance Proceeds From Insurance Settlement Investing Activities Other items Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Cash flows from financing activities Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities [Abstract] Proceeds from debt and credit facilities Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt Proceeds from preferred stock, net of discount and issuance costs Proceeds From Issuance Of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Payments and retirement of debt Repayments Of Long Term Debt