Consolidating Financial Statements Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017		Sep. 30, 2017		Jun. 30, 2017		Mar. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016		Sep. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2016		Mar. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Operating Income (Loss)																	$ (2,129)	$ (2,251)	$ (1,546)
Revenue, Net	$ 1,490		$ 1,460		$ 1,363		$ 1,386		$ 1,406		$ 1,356		$ 1,402		$ 1,585		5,699	5,749	9,433
Costs and Expenses																	(7,828)	(8,000)	(10,979)
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net																	(579)	(499)	(468)
Intercompany Charges, Net																	0	0	0
Equity in Subsidiary Income (Loss)																	0	0	0
Other, Net																	52	(127)	(82)
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes																	(2,656)	(2,877)	(2,096)
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes																	(137)	(496)	145
Net Loss																	(2,793)	(3,373)	(1,951)
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests																	(20)	(19)	(34)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	$ (1,938)	[1]	$ (256)	[2]	$ (171)	[3]	$ (448)	[4]	$ (549)	[5],[6]	$ (1,780)	[5]	$ (565)	[5],[7]	$ (498)	[5],[8]	(2,813)	(3,392)	(1,985)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford																	(2,722)	(3,361)	(2,745)
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Operating Income (Loss)																	(2,157)	(2,102)	(1,440)
Revenue, Net																	5,699	5,749	9,433
Costs and Expenses																	(7,856)	(7,851)	(10,873)
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net																	24	4	(13)
Intercompany Charges, Net																	103	(274)	(403)
Equity in Subsidiary Income (Loss)																	0	0	0
Other, Net																	(11)	(78)	(144)
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes																	(2,247)	(2,450)	(2,000)
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes																	(137)	(342)	31
Net Loss																	(2,384)	(2,792)	(1,969)
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests																	(20)	(19)	(34)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford																	(2,404)	(2,811)	(2,003)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford																	(2,312)	(2,780)	(2,762)
Weatherford Ireland Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Operating Income (Loss)																	(19)	(151)	(101)
Revenue, Net																	0	0	0
Costs and Expenses																	(19)	(151)	(101)
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net																	0	0	0
Intercompany Charges, Net																	(12)	(76)	(83)
Equity in Subsidiary Income (Loss)																	(2,891)	(3,181)	(1,801)
Other, Net																	85	16	0
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes																	(2,813)	(3,392)	(1,985)
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes																	0	0	0
Net Loss																	(2,813)	(3,392)	(1,985)
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests																	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford																	(2,813)	(3,392)	(1,985)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford																	(2,722)	(3,361)	(2,745)
Weatherford Bermuda [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Operating Income (Loss)																	45	(3)	(7)
Revenue, Net																	0	0	0
Costs and Expenses																	45	(3)	(7)
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net																	(583)	(465)	(398)
Intercompany Charges, Net																	(148)	4	(110)
Equity in Subsidiary Income (Loss)																	(878)	(2,403)	(1,868)
Other, Net																	(19)	(38)	51
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes																	(1,287)	(2,905)	(2,332)
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes																	0	0	0
Net Loss																	(1,287)	(2,905)	(2,332)
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests																	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford																	(1,287)	(2,905)	(2,332)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford																	(1,307)	(3,081)	(2,610)
Guarantor Subsidiaries, Weatherford Delaware [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Operating Income (Loss)																	2	5	2
Revenue, Net																	0	0	0
Costs and Expenses																	2	5	2
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net																	(38)	(49)	(57)
Intercompany Charges, Net																	192	(196)	(282)
Equity in Subsidiary Income (Loss)																	(437)	(944)	(492)
Other, Net																	5	43	11
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes																	(660)	(1,141)	(818)
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes																	0	(154)	114
Net Loss																	(660)	(1,295)	(704)
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests																	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford																	(660)	(1,295)	(704)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford																	(700)	(1,425)	(754)
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Operating Income (Loss)																	0	0	0
Revenue, Net																	0	0	0
Costs and Expenses																	0	0	0
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net																	18	11	0
Intercompany Charges, Net																	(135)	542	878
Equity in Subsidiary Income (Loss)																	4,206	6,528	4,161
Other, Net																	(8)	(70)	0
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes																	4,351	7,011	5,039
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes																	0	0	0
Net Loss																	4,351	7,011	5,039
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests																	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford																	4,351	7,011	5,039
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford																	$ 4,319	$ 7,286	$ 6,126

[1] Includes charges of $1.6 billion primarily related to long-lived asset impairments (including the write-down to the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell of our land drilling rigs assets classified as held for sale), inventory write-downs, the write-down of Venezuelan receivables, severance and restructuring charges, partially offset by a gain on sale of assets and a warrant fair value adjustment.

[2] Includes charges of $35 million primarily related to severance and restructuring charges and a warrant fair value adjustment.

[3] Includes credits of $108 million primarily related to gains on a warrant fair value and defined benefit pension plan reclassifications, partially offset by severance and restructuring charges and asset write-downs.

[4] Includes charges of $134 million primarily related to severance and restructuring charges, asset write-downs and a warrant fair value adjustment, partially offset by defined benefit pension plan reclassifications.

[5] Includes charges of $245 million primarily related to severance and restructuring, litigation charges and pressure pumping related charges.

[6] Includes charges of $771 million primarily related to long-lived asset impairments, inventory write-downs and severance and restructuring.

[7] Includes charges of $347 million primarily related to litigation charges, an adjustment to a note from PDVSA to fair value, a bond tender premium incurred from a tender offer and severance and restructuring charges partially offset by an estimated project income on our long-term early production facility construction contract.

[8] Includes charges of $285 million primarily related to severance and restructuring, litigation charges, pressure pumping related charges and an estimated project loss on our long-term early production facility construction contract.