<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<FilingSummary>
  <Version>3.3.0.814</Version>
  <ProcessingTime/>
  <ReportFormat>html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>235</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>248</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>66</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>14</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00090 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DocumentDocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Cover</MenuCategory>
      <Position>1</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00100 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/StatementConsolidatedBalanceSheets</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>2</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00105 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/StatementConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>3</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00200 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Operations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementsOfOperations</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Operations</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>4</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00300 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Changes In Stockholders' Equity</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementOfChangesInStockholdersEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statement of Changes In Stockholders' Equity</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>5</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00400 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>6</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10101 - Disclosure - Organization and Description of Business</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationAndDescriptionOfBusiness</Role>
      <ShortName>Organization and Description of Business</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>7</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10201 - Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureSignificantAccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Significant Accounting Policies</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>8</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10301 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurement</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureFairValueMeasurement</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurement</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>9</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10401 - Disclosure - Commodity Derivative Instruments</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureCommodityDerivativeInstruments</Role>
      <ShortName>Commodity Derivative Instruments</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>10</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10501 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureLongTermDebt</Role>
      <ShortName>Long-Term Debt</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>11</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10601 - Disclosure - Stock-based Compensation</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureStockBasedCompensation</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-based Compensation</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>12</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10701 - Disclosure - Earnings (loss) per Share</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureEarningsLossPerShare</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings (loss) per Share</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>13</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10801 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingencies</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>14</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10901 - Disclosure - Income Taxes</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>15</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>11001 - Disclosure - Subsidiary Guarantors</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureSubsidiaryGuarantorss</Role>
      <ShortName>Subsidiary Guarantors</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>16</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>20202 - Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Policies</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureSignificantAccountingPolicies</ParentRole>
      <Position>17</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30103 - Disclosure - Organization and Description of Business (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationAndDescriptionOfBusinessTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Organization and Description of Business (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationAndDescriptionOfBusiness</ParentRole>
      <Position>18</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30203 - Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureSignificantAccountingPoliciesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureSignificantAccountingPolicies</ParentRole>
      <Position>19</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30303 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurement (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureFairValueMeasurementTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurement (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureFairValueMeasurement</ParentRole>
      <Position>20</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30403 - Disclosure - Commodity Derivative Instruments (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureCommodityDerivativeInstrumentsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Commodity Derivative Instruments (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureCommodityDerivativeInstruments</ParentRole>
      <Position>21</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30503 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureLongTermDebtTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Long-Term Debt (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureLongTermDebt</ParentRole>
      <Position>22</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30603 - Disclosure - Stock-based Compensation (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureStockBasedCompensationTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-based Compensation (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureStockBasedCompensation</ParentRole>
      <Position>23</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30703 - Disclosure - Earnings (loss) per Share (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureEarningsLossPerShareTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings (loss) per Share (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureEarningsLossPerShare</ParentRole>
      <Position>24</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30903 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxes</ParentRole>
      <Position>25</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>31003 - Disclosure - Subsidiary Guarantors</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureSubsidiaryGuarantors</Role>
      <ShortName>Subsidiary Guarantors</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>26</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40101 - Disclosure - Organization and Description of Business (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationAndDescriptionOfBusinessDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Organization and Description of Business (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>27</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40102 - Disclosure - Organization and Description of Business (Details 2)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationAndDescriptionOfBusinessDetails2</Role>
      <ShortName>Organization and Description of Business (Details 2)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>28</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40103 - Disclosure - Organization and Description of Business (Details 3)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureOrganizationAndDescriptionOfBusinessDetails3</Role>
      <ShortName>Organization and Description of Business (Details 3)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>29</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40201 - Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Significant Accounting Policies (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>30</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40202 - Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies (Details 2)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails2</Role>
      <ShortName>Significant Accounting Policies (Details 2)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>31</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40203 - Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies (Details 3)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails3</Role>
      <ShortName>Significant Accounting Policies (Details 3)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>32</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R33.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40204 - Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies (Details 4)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails4</Role>
      <ShortName>Significant Accounting Policies (Details 4)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>33</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R34.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40205 - Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies (Details 5)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails5</Role>
      <ShortName>Significant Accounting Policies (Details 5)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>34</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R35.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40206 - Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies (Details 6)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails6</Role>
      <ShortName>Significant Accounting Policies (Details 6)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>35</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R36.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40207 - Disclosure - Significant Accounting Policies (Details 7)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails7</Role>
      <ShortName>Significant Accounting Policies (Details 7)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>36</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R37.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40301 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurement (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureFairValueMeasurementDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurement (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>37</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R38.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40302 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurement (Details 2)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureFairValueMeasurementDetails2</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurement (Details 2)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>38</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R39.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40303 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurement (Details 3)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureFairValueMeasurementDetails3</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurement (Details 3)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>39</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R40.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40304 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurement (Details 4)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureFairValueMeasurementDetails4</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurement (Details 4)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>40</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R41.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40305 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurement (Details 5)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureFairValueMeasurementDetails5</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurement (Details 5)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>41</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R42.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40401 - Disclosure - Commodity Derivative Instruments (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureCommodityDerivativeInstrumentsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Commodity Derivative Instruments (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>42</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R43.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40402 - Disclosure - Commodity Derivative Instruments (Details 2)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureCommodityDerivativeInstrumentsDetails2</Role>
      <ShortName>Commodity Derivative Instruments (Details 2)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>43</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R44.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40403 - Disclosure - Commodity Derivative Instruments (Details 3)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureCommodityDerivativeInstrumentsDetails3</Role>
      <ShortName>Commodity Derivative Instruments (Details 3)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>44</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R45.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40404 - Disclosure - Commodity Derivative Instruments (Details 4)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureCommodityDerivativeInstrumentsDetails4</Role>
      <ShortName>Commodity Derivative Instruments (Details 4)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>45</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R46.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40501 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureLongTermDebtDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Long-Term Debt (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>46</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R47.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40601 - Disclosure - Stock-based Compensation (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureStockBasedCompensationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock-based Compensation (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>47</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R48.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40701 - Disclosure - Earnings (loss) per Share (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureEarningsLossPerShareDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings (loss) per Share (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>48</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R49.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40702 - Disclosure - Earnings (loss) per Share (Details 2)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureEarningsLossPerShareDetails2</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings (loss) per Share (Details 2)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>49</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R50.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40901 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>50</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R51.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>41001 - Disclosure - Subsidiary Guarantors (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureSubsidiaryGuarantorsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Subsidiary Guarantors (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>51</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R52.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>41002 - Disclosure - Subsidiary Guarantors (Details 2)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureSubsidiaryGuarantorsDetails2</Role>
      <ShortName>Subsidiary Guarantors (Details 2)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>52</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R53.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>41003 - Disclosure - Subsidiary Guarantors (Details 3)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureSubsidiaryGuarantorsDetails3</Role>
      <ShortName>Subsidiary Guarantors (Details 3)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>53</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="jone-20150930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R54.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>41004 - Disclosure - Subsidiary Guarantors (Details 4)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.jonesenergy.com/role/DisclosureSubsidiaryGuarantorsDetails4</Role>
      <ShortName>Subsidiary Guarantors (Details 4)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Uncategorized</MenuCategory>
      <Position>54</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Info">In ''Consolidated Balance Sheets'', column(s) 3 are contained in other reports, so were removed by flow through suppression.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">In ''Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows'', column(s) 1, 2 are contained in other reports, so were removed by flow through suppression.</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>jone-20150930.xml</File>
    <File>jone-20150930_cal.xml</File>
    <File>jone-20150930_def.xml</File>
    <File>jone-20150930_lab.xml</File>
    <File>jone-20150930_pre.xml</File>
    <File>jone-20150930.xsd</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles/>
  <BaseTaxonomies/>
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>

