Short-term Borrowings and Other Debt Obligations Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	May 04, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Jul. 19, 2016	Jul. 01, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Apr. 09, 2015
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations		$ 7,580.0					$ 6,253.0
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal		75.0
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Senior Leverage Ratio, Period One	3.0
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Senior Leverage Ratio, Period Two	2.5
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Specified Leverage and Letters of Credit Ratio, Period One	4.0
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Specified Leverage and Letter of Credit Ratio, Period Two	3.5
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Asset Coverage Ratio	4.0
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity		1,300.0
Short-term Debt		2.0					1,181.0
Performance bonds		54.0
Current portion of long-term debt		177.0					401.0
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term Debt		0.0					967.0
Committed letters of credit [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Letters of credit outstanding, amount		63.0
364-day term loan facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Credit agreement, maximum capacity								$ 400.0
Short-term Debt								$ 175.0
Domestic and Foreign Facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short term borrowings		2.0
Uncommitted letters of credit [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Letters of credit outstanding, amount		450.0
Guarantor Subsidiaries, Weatherford Delaware [Member] | 364-day term loan facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt instrument, term			364 days	364 days
A&R Credit Agreement [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Credit agreement, maximum capacity		1,380.0			$ 250.0
Commitments Not Electing to Extend Maturity	$ 229.0
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal	$ 12.5
Term Loan Agreement [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations		420.0					0.0
Senior Notes, 6.35% due 2017 [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage						6.35%
Senior Notes, 5.50% due 2016 [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations		$ 0.0
Senior Notes, 5.50% due 2016 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations							$ 350.0
Senior Notes, 5.50% due 2016 [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries, Weatherford Delaware [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.50%					5.50%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Domestic and Foreign Facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Interest rate at period end		1.95%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | A&R Credit Agreement [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		1.925%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Term Loan Agreement [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		2.30%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Term Loan Agreement [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		1.425%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | Term Loan Agreement [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		3.20%
Base Rate [Member] | Term Loan Agreement [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		0.425%
Base Rate [Member] | Term Loan Agreement [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		2.20%
Tranche One [Member] | Bi-Lateral Revolver Debt [Member] | Domestic and Foreign Facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short term borrowings		$ 180.0
Non-Extending Lenders [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | A&R Credit Agreement [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	0.75%
Non-Extending Lenders [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | A&R Credit Agreement [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	1.925%
Non-Extending Lenders [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | A&R Credit Agreement [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	0.00%
Non-Extending Lenders [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | A&R Credit Agreement [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	0.925%
Extending Lenders [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | A&R Credit Agreement [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	1.925%
Extending Lenders [Member] | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] | A&R Credit Agreement [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	3.70%
Extending Lenders [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | A&R Credit Agreement [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	0.925%
Extending Lenders [Member] | Base Rate [Member] | A&R Credit Agreement [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	2.70%
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 6.35% due 2017 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations		$ 89.0					$ 604.0
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 6.35% due 2017 [Member] | Weatherford Bermuda [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.35%					6.35%
Senior Notes [Member] | Senior Notes, 5.50% due 2016 [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Current portion of long-term debt		$ 350.0