Document And Entity Information	6 Months Ended
Document And Entity Information	Jun. 30, 2015	Aug. 06, 2015
Entity Registrant Name	Dorchester Minerals, L.P.
Entity Central Index Key	0001172358
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		30,675,431
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	false

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 7,028	$ 15,912
Trade and other receivables	4,084	4,761
Net profits interests receivable - related party	3,755	5,792
Prepaid expenses	45	19
Total current assets	14,912	26,484
Property and leasehold improvements - at cost:
Oil and natural gas properties (full cost method)	340,585	340,703
Accumulated full cost depletion	(274,476)	(269,690)
Total	66,109	71,013
Total assets	81,125	97,509
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	1,725	975
Current portion of deferred rent incentive	54	10
Total current liabilities	1,779	985
Deferred rent incentive less current portion	50
Total liabilities	1,829	985
Commitments and contingencies (Note 2)
Partnership capital:
General partner	2,224	2,692
Unitholders	77,072	93,832
Total partnership capital	79,296	96,524
Total liabilities and partnership capital	81,125	97,509
Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property and leasehold improvements - at cost:
Leasehold improvements	625	512
Accumulated amortization	(521)	(500)
Total	$ 104	$ 12

Condensed Consolidated Income Statements (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Operating revenues:
Lease bonus	$ 3	$ 523	$ 50	$ 739
Other	12	10	40	25
Total operating revenues	8,280	17,973	17,084	35,312
Costs and expenses:
Operating, including production taxes	977	1,537	2,011	2,976
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	2,341	2,766	4,806	5,283
General and administrative expenses	1,148	1,059	2,423	2,195
Total costs and expenses	4,466	5,362	9,240	10,454
Operating income	3,814	12,611	7,844	24,858
Other income, net	2	58	3	708
Net income	3,816	12,669	7,847	25,566
Allocation of net income:
General partner	149	461	302	916
Unitholders	3,667	12,208	7,545	24,650
Net income per common unit (basic and diluted) (in dollars per share)	$ 0.12	$ 0.39	$ 0.25	$ 0.80
Weighted average common units outstanding (000's) (in shares)	30,675	30,675	30,675	30,675
Royalty Revenue [Member]
Operating revenues:
Royalties	8,048	15,575	16,329	30,238
Net Profits Interests [Member]
Operating revenues:
Royalties	$ 217	$ 1,865	$ 665	$ 4,310

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 16,073	$ 32,282
Cash flows provided by investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of reserves	118	27
Cash flows used in financing activities:
Distributions paid to general partner and unitholders	(25,075)	(30,675)
(Decrease)/Increase in cash and cash equivalents	(8,884)	1,634
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	15,912	15,175
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 7,028	$ 16,809

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation	6 Months Ended
Note 1 - Basis of Presentation	Jun. 30, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]	1 Basis of Presentation: Dorchester Minerals, L.P. is a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership that was formed in December 2001, and commenced operations on January 31, 2003. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Dorchester Minerals, L.P. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries Dorchester Minerals Oklahoma LP, Dorchester Minerals Oklahoma GP, Inc., Maecenas Minerals LLP, and Dorchester-Maecenas GP LLC. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments unless indicated otherwise) that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of our financial position and operating results for the interim period. Interim period results are not necessarily indicative of the results for the calendar year. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for additional information. Per-unit information is calculated by dividing the income or loss applicable to holders of our Partnership’s common units by the weighted average number of units outstanding. The Partnership has no potentially dilutive securities and, consequently, basic and dilutive income per unit do not differ. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Partnership’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. Fair Value of Financial Instruments — The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and payables approximates fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments. These estimated fair values may not be representative of actual values of the financial instruments that could have been realized as of quarter close or that will be realized in the future.

Note 2 - Contingencies	6 Months Ended
Note 2 - Contingencies	Jun. 30, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	2 Contingencies: The Partnership and Dorchester Minerals Operating LP are involved in legal and/or administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of their businesses, none of which have predictable outcomes and none of which are believed to have any significant effect on consolidated financial position, cash flows, or operating results.

Note 3 - Distributions to Holders of Common Units

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2015

Notes to Financial Statements

Partners' Capital Notes Disclosure [Text Block]

Distributions to Holders of Common Units:

Unitholder cash distributions per common unit since 2013 have been:

	Per Unit Amount
	2015	2014	2013
First quarter	$0.306553	$0.496172	$0.448209
Second quarter	$0.167430	$0.490861	$0.395583
Third quarter		$0.447805	$0.455287
Fourth quarter		$0.485780	$0.468560

Each of the foregoing distributions were paid on 30,675,431 units. The second quarter 2015 distribution was paid on August 6, 2015. Fourth quarter distributions shown above are paid in the first calendar quarter of the following year. Our partnership agreement requires the next cash distribution to be paid by November 15, 2015.

Note 4 - New Accounting Pronouncements	6 Months Ended
Note 4 - New Accounting Pronouncements	Jun. 30, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted [Text Block]	4 New Accounting Pronouncements: In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014-09), which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing U.S. GAAP. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods therein, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures). We are currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of ASU 2014-09 on our consolidated financial statements and have not yet determined the method by which we will adopt the standard in 2018.

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Jun. 30, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Fair Value of Financial Instruments — The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and payables approximates fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments. These estimated fair values may not be representative of actual values of the financial instruments that could have been realized as of quarter close or that will be realized in the future.

Note 3 - Distributions to Holders of Common Units (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2015

Notes Tables

Distributions Made to Limited Partner, by Distribution [Table Text Block]

	Per Unit Amount
	2015	2014	2013
First quarter	$0.306553	$0.496172	$0.448209
Second quarter	$0.167430	$0.490861	$0.395583
Third quarter		$0.447805	$0.455287
Fourth quarter		$0.485780	$0.468560

Note 3 - Distributions to Holders of Common Units (Details Textual)	Jun. 30, 2015
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	30,675,431

Note 3 - Unitholder Cash Distributions Per Common Unit (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013
Cash distribution per unit (in dollars per share)			$ 0.16743	$ 0.306553	$ 0.48578	$ 0.447805	$ 0.490861	$ 0.496172	$ 0.46856	$ 0.455287	$ 0.395583	$ 0.448209