Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited) - 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. Equity	Noncontrolling Interest	Restricted Stock Units Common Stock Class A Common Stock
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
Vested restricted stock units retained by the Company in exchange for payment of recipient mandatory tax withholdings (in shares)			59,261
Vested restricted stock units retained by the Company in exchange for payment of recipient mandatory tax withholdings	(396)				(396)		(396)
Cancellation of treasury shares (in shares)			(59,261)
Net income (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
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019			29,421,131	35,260,680
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	835,751		$ 29	$ 35	527,246	(181,711)	345,599	490,152
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock-based compensation expense	2,694				2,694		2,694
Vesting of restricted stock units, net of taxes paid (in shares)									231,834
Vesting of restricted stock units, net of taxes paid	1		$ 1				1
Vested restricted stock units retained by the Company in exchange for payment of recipient mandatory tax withholdings (in shares)			75,695
Vested restricted stock units retained by the Company in exchange for payment of recipient mandatory tax withholdings	(214)				(214)		(214)
Cancellation of treasury shares (in shares)			(75,695)
Class B Common Stock converted to Class A Common Stock (in shares)		199,993	199,993	(199,993)
Class B Common Stock converted to Class A Common Stock	0				2,897		2,897	(2,897)
Net income (loss)	36,714					16,708	16,708	20,006
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020			29,852,958	35,060,687
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2020	$ 874,946		$ 30	$ 35	$ 532,623	$ (165,003)	$ 367,685	$ 507,261