Document And Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
Document And Entity Information - shares	Mar. 31, 2017	May 04, 2017
Document Information [Line Items]
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	Accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		30,675,431
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 10,608	$ 8,212
Trade and other receivables	4,057	4,332
Net profits interests receivable - related party	3,133	2,225
Total current assets	17,798	14,769
Other non-current assets	56	19
Property and leasehold improvements - at cost:
Oil and natural gas properties (full cost method)	340,563	340,563
Accumulated full cost depletion	(289,904)	(288,163)
Total	50,659	52,400
Total assets	68,522	67,211
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	745	252
Current portion of deferred rent incentive	9	23
Total current liabilities	754	275
Commitments and contingencies (Note 2)
Partnership capital:
General partner	1,826	1,809
Unitholders	65,942	65,127
Total partnership capital	67,768	66,936
Total liabilities and partnership capital	68,522	67,211
Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property and leasehold improvements - at cost:
Leasehold improvements	625	625
Accumulated amortization	(616)	(602)
Total	$ 9	$ 23

Condensed Consolidated Income Statements (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Operating revenues:
Lease bonus	$ 30	$ 189
Other	414	130
Total operating revenues	12,727	6,126
Costs and expenses:
Operating, including production taxes	987	507
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	1,755	2,236
General and administrative expenses	1,463	1,885
Total costs and expenses	4,205	4,628
Net income	8,522	1,498
Allocation of net income:
General partner	300	60
Unitholders	$ 8,222	$ 1,438
Net income per common unit (basic and diluted) (in dollars per share)	$ 0.27	$ 0.05
Weighted average common units outstanding (in shares)	30,675	30,675
Royalty Revenue [Member]
Operating revenues:
Revenues	$ 10,623	$ 5,784
Net Profits Interests [Member]
Operating revenues:
Revenues	$ 1,660	$ 23

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 10,086	$ 4,470
Cash flows used in financing activities:
Distributions paid to general partner and unitholders	(7,690)	(6,339)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	2,396	(1,869)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	8,212	7,136
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 10,608	$ 5,267

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
Note 1 - Basis of Presentation	Mar. 31, 2017
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 statement 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, 2016. 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 - Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
Note 2 - Commitments and Contingencies	Mar. 31, 2017
Notes to Financial Statements
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]	2 Commitments and 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. Operating Leases - We have entered into an operating lease agreement in the ordinary course of our business activities. The third amendment to our office lease was signed on April 17, 2017, for a term of 129 months beginning June 1, 2018. The lease is for our office space at 3838 Oak Lawn Avenue, Suite 300, Dallas, Texas, and now expires in 2029. Under the third amendment to the office lease, monthly rental payments will range from $25,000 - $30,000 and the Partnership will receive a tenant improvement allowance of $650,000. The Partnership recognizes a deferred rent liability for the rent escalations when the amount of straight-line rent exceeds the lease payments, and reduces the deferred rent liability when the lease payments exceed the straight-line rent expense. For the tenant improvement allowance, the Partnership will record a deferred rent liability and will amortize the deferred rent over the lease term as a reduction to rent expense.

Note 3 - Distribution to Holders of Common Units

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Notes to Financial Statements

Partners' Capital Notes Disclosure [Text Block]

Distributions to Holders of Common Units:

Unitholder cash distributions per common unit since

2015

have been:

	Per Unit Amount
	2017		2016		2015
First quarter	$	0.306700	$	0.147417	$	0.306553
Second quarter			$	0.257977	$	0.167430
Third quarter			$	0.252224	$	0.194234
Fourth quarter			$	0.241475	$	0.199076

Each of the foregoing distributions were paid on

30,675,431

units. The

first

quarter distribution will be paid

May

11,

2017.

Fourth quarter distributions shown above are paid in the

first

calendar quarter of the following year. The partnership agreement requires the next cash distribution to be paid by

August

14,

2017.

Note 4 - New Accounting Pronouncements	3 Months Ended
Note 4 - New Accounting Pronouncements	Mar. 31, 2017
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 (ASU) No. 2014 - 09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014 - 09), which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The guidance requires entities to recognize revenue using the following five -step model: identify the contract with a customer, identify the performance obligations in the contract, determine the transaction price, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and recognize revenue as the entity satisfies each performance obligation. Adoption of this standard could result in retrospective application, either in the form of recasting all prior periods presented or a cumulative adjustment to equity in the period of adoption. The guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Our Partnership’s revenues are substantially attributable to oil and gas sales. Based on our initial review of our contracts, we believe the timing and presentation of revenues under ASU 2014 - 09 will be consistent with our current revenue recognition policy as described above. The Partnership will continue to monitor specific developments for our industry as it relates to ASU 2014 - 09. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016 - 02, which requires lessees to record most leases on the balance sheet. Under the new guidance, lease classification as either a finance lease or an operating lease will determine how lease-related revenue and expense are recognized. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company has lease commitments of approximately $3 million that we believe would be subject to capitalization under ASU 2016 - 02. The lease obligations that will be in place upon adoption of ASU 2016 - 02 may be significantly different than our current obligations. Accordingly, at this time we cannot estimate the amount that will be capitalized when this standard is adopted.

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Mar. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]	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 statement 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, 2016.
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 - Distribution to Holders of Common Units (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Notes Tables

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

	Per Unit Amount
	2017		2016		2015
First quarter	$	0.306700	$	0.147417	$	0.306553
Second quarter			$	0.257977	$	0.167430
Third quarter			$	0.252224	$	0.194234
Fourth quarter			$	0.241475	$	0.199076

Note 2 - Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) - Subsequent Event [Member] - Office Lease [Member]	Apr. 17, 2017 USD ($)
Lessee, Operating Lease, Term of Contract	10 years 270 days
Tenant Improvement Allowance	$ 650,000
Minimum [Member]
Operating Leases, Future Monthly Payments	25,000
Maximum [Member]
Operating Leases, Future Monthly Payments	$ 30,000

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation (Details Textual) shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 shares
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	0

Note 3 - Distribution to Holders of Common Units - Unitholder Cash Distributions Per Common Unit (Details) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015
Cash distribution per unit (in dollars per share)	$ 0.3067	$ 0.241475	$ 0.252224	$ 0.257977	$ 0.147417	$ 0.199076	$ 0.194234	$ 0.16743	$ 0.306553

Note 4 - New Accounting Pronouncements (Details Textual) $ in Millions	Apr. 17, 2017 USD ($)
Subsequent Event [Member]
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due	$ 3