Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Class B Common Stock	Common Stock Class A Common Stock	Common Stock Class B Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Total Earthstone Energy, Inc. Stockholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interest	Restricted Stock Units Common Stock Class A Common Stock
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017			27,584,638	36,052,169
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 725,732		$ 28	$ 36	$ 503,932	$ (224,822)	$ 279,174	$ 446,558
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock-based compensation expense	1,940				1,940		1,940
Vesting of restricted stock units, net of taxes paid (in shares)									86,272
Class A Common Stock retained by the Company in exchange for payment of recipient mandatory tax withholdings (in shares)			28,664
Class A Common Stock retained by the Company in exchange for payment of recipient mandatory tax withholdings	(466)				(466)		(466)
Cancellation of treasury shares (in shares)			(28,664)
Class B Common Stock converted to Class A Common Stock (in shares)		194,046	194,046	(194,046)
Class B Common Stock converted to Class A Common Stock					2,409		2,409	(2,409)
Net loss	12,191					5,321	5,321	6,870
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018			27,864,956	35,858,123
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2018	739,397		$ 28	$ 36	507,815	(219,501)	288,378	451,019
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018			28,696,321	35,452,178
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	826,492		$ 29	$ 35	517,073	(182,497)	334,640	491,852
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock-based compensation expense	2,212				2,212		2,212
Vesting of restricted stock units, net of taxes paid (in shares)									166,140
Class A Common Stock retained by the Company in exchange for payment of recipient mandatory tax withholdings (in shares)			59,261
Class A Common Stock retained by the Company in exchange for payment of recipient mandatory tax withholdings	(396)				(396)		(396)
Cancellation of treasury shares (in shares)			(59,261)
Class B Common Stock converted to Class A Common Stock (in shares)		0
Net loss	(38,443)					(17,204)	(17,204)	(21,239)
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019			28,862,461	35,452,178
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 790,031		$ 29	$ 35	$ 518,889	$ (199,634)	$ 319,319	$ 470,712