Document and Entity Information Document (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 25, 2014 Class A Common Stock	Mar. 25, 2014 Class B Common Stock	Mar. 25, 2014 Class C Common Stock	Mar. 25, 2014 Class E Common Stock	Mar. 25, 2014 Class F Common Stock	Mar. 25, 2014 Class G Common Stock
Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	Chaparral Energy, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001346980
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding			366,685	344,859	209,882	504,276	1	2
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	Yes
Entity Current Reporting Status	No
Entity Public Float		$ 0