Document And Entity Information	9 Months Ended
Document And Entity Information	Sep. 30, 2015	Nov. 05, 2015
Entity Registrant Name	Dorchester Minerals, L.P.
Entity Central Index Key	0001172358
Trading Symbol	dmlp
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	Sep. 30, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 8,113	$ 15,912
Trade and other receivables	3,461	4,761
Net profits interests receivable - related party	3,708	5,792
Prepaid expenses	32	19
Total current assets	15,314	26,484
Property and leasehold improvements - at cost:
Oil and natural gas properties (full cost method)	340,565	340,703
Accumulated full cost depletion	(277,509)	(269,690)
Total	63,056	71,013
Total assets	78,460	97,509
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	1,729	975
Current portion of deferred rent incentive	54	10
Total current liabilities	1,783	985
Deferred rent incentive less current portion	36
Total liabilities	1,819	985
Commitments and contingencies (Note 2)
Partnership capital:
General partner	2,124	2,692
Unitholders	74,517	93,832
Total partnership capital	76,641	96,524
Total liabilities and partnership capital	78,460	97,509
Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property and leasehold improvements - at cost:
Leasehold improvements	625	512
Accumulated amortization	(535)	(500)
Total	$ 90	$ 12

Condensed Consolidated Income Statements (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Operating revenues:
Lease bonus	$ 1	$ 392	$ 51	$ 1,131
Other	3	83	43	108
Total operating revenues	7,387	15,716	24,471	51,028
Costs and expenses:
Operating, including production taxes	593	1,345	2,604	4,321
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	3,048	2,610	7,854	7,893
General and administrative expenses	1,065	796	3,488	2,991
Total costs and expenses	4,706	4,751	13,946	15,205
Operating income	2,681	10,965	10,525	35,823
Other income, net	2	4	5	712
Net income	2,683	10,969	10,530	36,535
Allocation of net income:
General partner	103	400	405	1,316
Unitholders	2,580	10,569	10,125	35,219
Net income per common unit (basic and diluted) (in dollars per share)	$ 0.08	$ 0.35	$ 0.33	$ 1.15
Weighted average common units outstanding (000's) (in shares)	30,675	30,675	30,675	30,675
Royalty Revenue [Member]
Operating revenues:
Royalties	7,080	13,638	23,409	43,876
Net Profits Interests [Member]
Operating revenues:
Royalties	$ 303	$ 1,603	$ 968	$ 5,913

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 22,476	$ 47,009
Cash flows provided by investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of reserves	138
Cash flows used in financing activities:
Distributions paid to general partner and unitholders	(30,413)	(46,285)
(Decrease)/Increase in cash and cash equivalents	(7,799)	724
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	15,912	15,175
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 8,113	$ 15,899

- Definition

Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

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Note 1 - Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Note 1 - Basis of Presentation	Sep. 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.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure.

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Note 2 - Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Note 2 - Contingencies	Sep. 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.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for commitments and contingencies.

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Note 3 - Distributions to Holders of Common Units

9 Months Ended

Sep. 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	$	0.194234	$	0.447805	$	0.455287
Fourth quarter			$	0.485780	$	0.468560

Each of the foregoing distributions were paid on 30,675,431 units. The third quarter 2015 distribution was paid on November 5, 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 February 14, 2016.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the formation, structure, control and ownership of the partnership. Disclosures related to accounts comprising partners' capital. Includes balances of general partners' capital account, limited partners' capital account, preferred partners' capital account and total partners' capital account and units outstanding; accumulated other comprehensive income; amount and nature of changes to amount of partner's capital and units outstanding by class, rights and privileges for each class of units; distribution policies and distributions paid by unit class; impact of and correction of an error in previously issued financial statements; limitations of partners' liability; redemption, conversion and distribution policies; and deferred compensation related to the issuance of units.

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Note 4 - New Accounting Pronouncements	9 Months Ended
Note 4 - New Accounting Pronouncements	Sep. 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)	9 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Sep. 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)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 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	$	0.194234	$	0.447805	$	0.455287
Fourth quarter			$	0.485780	$	0.468560

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)		$ 0.194234	$ 0.16743	$ 0.306553	$ 0.48578	$ 0.447805	$ 0.490861	$ 0.496172	$ 0.46856	$ 0.455287	$ 0.395583	$ 0.448209