Aggregate stock dividends declared during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

No definition available.

Name:	jone_DividendsCommonStockStockSharesDeclaredPerShareOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	jone_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of shares purchased from affiliates during the year from the excess cash distribution.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	jone_NumberOfAdditionalCommonUnitsPurchasedFromAffiliates
Namespace Prefix:	jone_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period of time for determining the volume weighted average price per share.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	jone_SharePriceVolumeWeightedAveragePeriod
Namespace Prefix:	jone_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage rate used to calculate dividend payments on temporary equity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	jone_TemporaryEquityDividendRatePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	jone_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate dividends declared during the period for each share of preferred stock outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	jone_TemporaryEquityDividendsPerShareDeclared
Namespace Prefix:	jone_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate dividends declared during the period for each share of preferred stock outstanding, portion paid in cash.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	jone_TemporaryEquityDividendsPerShareDeclaredCashPortion
Namespace Prefix:	jone_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate dividends declared during the period for each share of preferred stock outstanding, portion paid in common stock.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	jone_TemporaryEquityDividendsPerShareDeclaredCommonStockPortion
Namespace Prefix:	jone_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate dividends declared during the period for each share of preferred stock outstanding, portion paid in common stock. Percentage of volume-weighted average price per share.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	jone_TemporaryEquityDividendsPerShareDeclaredCommonStockPortionAverageVolumeWeightedPricePerSharePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	jone_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate dividends declared during the period for each share of preferred stock outstanding, portion paid in common stock. Percentage of volume-weighted average price per share. Consecutive days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	jone_TemporaryEquityDividendsPerShareDeclaredCommonStockPortionAverageVolumeWeightedPricePerSharePercentageConsecutiveDayTradingPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	jone_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DividendsStockAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from an entity that is affiliated with the entity by means of direct or indirect ownership.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3255-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromContributionsFromAffiliates
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Price of a single share of a number of saleable stocks of a company.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SharePrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The per share liquidation preference (or restrictions) of stock classified as temporary equity that has a preference in involuntary liquidation considerably in excess of the par or stated value of the shares. The liquidation preference is the difference between the preference in liquidation and the par or stated values of the share. Temporary equity is a security with redemption features that are outside the control of the issuer, is not classified as an asset or liability in conformity with GAAP, and is not mandatorily redeemable. Includes any type of security that is redeemable at a fixed or determinable price or on a fixed or determinable date or dates, is redeemable at the option of the holder, or has conditions for redemption which are not solely within the control of the issuer. If convertible, the issuer does not control the actions or events necessary to issue the maximum number of shares that could be required to be delivered under the conversion option if the holder exercises the option to convert the stock to another class of equity. If the security is a warrant or a rights issue, the warrant or rights issue is considered to be temporary equity if the issuer cannot demonstrate that it would be able to deliver upon the exercise of the option by the holder in all cases. Includes stock with put option held by ESOP and stock redeemable by holder only in the event of a change in control of the issuer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.28(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TemporaryEquityLiquidationPreferencePerShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TemporaryEquityNumberOfSharesRedemptionValueAndOtherDisclosuresAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=us-gaap_SeriesAPreferredStockMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=jone_JonesEnergyHoldingsLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=jone_JonesEnergyHoldingsLLCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Stockholders' and Mezzanine equity - Preferred Stock Dividend and Special Stock Dividend (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions					3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jul. 13, 2017	Apr. 17, 2017	Jan. 19, 2017	Aug. 25, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017
Special Stock Dividend Declared
Distributions from JEH					$ 17.5
Volume weighted average price per share, period						5 years
Series A preferred stock
Preferred Stock Dividend Declared
Dividend rate (as a percent)	8.00%	8.00%	8.00%	8.00%
Liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 50.00	$ 50.00	$ 50.00	$ 50.00
Dividend declared (in dollars per share)	$ 1.00	1.00	$ 1.00
Dividend declared, cash portion (in dollars per share)		0.83
Dividend declared, common stock portion (in dollars per share)		$ 0.17
Average volume-weighted price per share percentage (as a percent)	95.00%	95.00%
Average volume-weighted price per share percentage, consecutive days	5 days	5 days
Class A common stock
Special Stock Dividend Declared
Special stock dividend declared per share (in shares)					0.087423
JEH
Special Stock Dividend Declared
Number of additional common units purchased						4,999,927
JEH
Special Stock Dividend Declared
Share price (in dollars per share)						$ 3.50