General (Policies)	9 Months Ended
General (Policies)	Sep. 30, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Accounting	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Weatherford International plc (the “Company”) are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and include all adjustments of a normal recurring nature which, in our opinion, are necessary to present fairly our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2014, Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, and Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013. When referring to “Weatherford” and using phrases such as “we,” “us,” and “our,” the intent is to refer to Weatherford International plc, a public limited company organized under the law of Ireland, and its subsidiaries as a whole or on a regional basis, depending on the context in which the statements are made. On June 17, 2014, we completed the change in our place of incorporation from Switzerland to Ireland, whereby Weatherford International plc, a public limited company (“Weatherford Ireland”) became the new public holding company and the parent of the Weatherford group of companies (the “Merger”). The Merger was effected through an agreement between Weatherford International Ltd., a Swiss joint-stock corporation (“Weatherford Switzerland”) and Weatherford Ireland, dated as of April 2, 2014, pursuant to which each registered share of Weatherford Switzerland was exchanged for the allotment of one ordinary share of Weatherford Ireland. The authorized share capital of Weatherford Ireland includes 1.356 billion ordinary shares with a par value of $0.001 per share. Our ordinary shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “WFT,” the same symbol under which Weatherford Switzerland registered shares were previously listed. Although we believe the disclosures in these financial statements are adequate, certain information relating to our organization and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted in this Form 10-Q pursuant to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and regulations. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the year ending December 31, 2014. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions, including those related to uncollectible accounts receivable, lower of cost or market of inventories, equity investments, intangible assets and goodwill, property, plant and equipment, income taxes, percentage-of-completion accounting for long-term contracts, self-insurance, foreign currency exchange rates, pension and post-retirement benefit plans, contingencies and share-based compensation. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation. See Note 2 – Business Combinations and Divestitures for additional information.
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation We consolidate all wholly-owned subsidiaries, controlled joint ventures and variable interest entities where the Company has determined it is the primary beneficiary. Investments in affiliates in which we exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies are accounted for using the equity method. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
New Accounting Pronouncements	New Accounting Pronouncements In June 2014, the FASB issued amended guidance on the accounting for certain share-based employee compensation awards. The amended guidance applies to share-based employee compensation awards that include a performance target that affects vesting when the performance target can be achieved after the requisite service period. These targets are to be treated as a performance condition. As such, the performance target should not be reflected in estimating the grant-date fair value of the award and compensation cost should be recognized in the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved. This guidance is effective beginning with the first quarter of 2016 and early adoption is permitted. We currently do not expect the impact of our pending adoption of this guidance to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements or disclosures. In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new guidance intended to change the criteria for recognition of revenue. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve this core principal, an entity should apply the following five steps: (1) Identify contracts with customers, (2) Identify the performance obligations in the contracts, (3) Determine the transaction price, (4) Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligation in the contract, and (5) Recognize revenue as the entity satisfies performance obligations. This guidance is effective beginning with the first quarter of 2017 and early adoption is not permitted. We are currently evaluating what impact the adoption of this guidance would have on our financial position, results of operations, cash flows or disclosures. In April 2014, the FASB issued guidance intended to change the criteria for reporting discontinued operations while enhancing disclosures for discontinued operations. Under the guidance, only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations should be presented as discontinued operations. Examples include a disposal of a major geographic area, a major line of business, or a major equity method investment. The guidance also requires expanded disclosures about discontinued operations intended to provide financial statement users with more information about the assets, liabilities, income, and expenses of discontinued operations. Finally, the guidance requires disclosure of the pre-tax income attributable to a disposal of a significant part of an organization that does not qualify for discontinued operations reporting. This guidance is effective beginning with the first quarter of 2015 and early adoption is permissible. We elected to early adopt this guidance in three months ended June 2014 and, as required, we have prospectively assessed our assets held for sale in accordance with this guidance. Upon adoption, we recognized no significant impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Disclosure of accounting policy regarding (1) the principles it follows in consolidating or combining the separate financial statements, including the principles followed in determining the inclusion or exclusion of subsidiaries or other entities in the consolidated or combined financial statements and (2) its treatment of interests (for example, common stock, a partnership interest or other means of exerting influence) in other entities, for example consolidation or use of the equity or cost methods of accounting. The accounting policy may also address the accounting treatment for intercompany accounts and transactions, noncontrolling interest, and the income statement treatment in consolidation for issuances of stock by a subsidiary.

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