Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Narrative) (Details) - Senior Notes	Mar. 31, 2018	Feb. 28, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Senior Notes, 6.80% due 2037 | Weatherford Bermuda
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	6.80%		6.80%
Senior Notes, 6.50% due 2036 | Weatherford Delaware
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	6.50%		6.50%
Senior Notes, 6.00% due 2018
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	6.00%
Senior Notes, 6.00% due 2018 | Weatherford Delaware
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt			6.00%
Senior Notes, 7.00% due 2038 | Weatherford Delaware
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	7.00%		7.00%
Senior Notes, 9.625% due 2019
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt		9.625%
Senior Notes, 9.625% due 2019 | Weatherford Delaware
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	9.625%		9.625%
Senior Notes, 9.875% due 2039 | Weatherford Delaware
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	9.875%		9.875%
Senior Notes, 5.125% due 2020 | Weatherford Delaware
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	5.125%		5.125%
Senior Notes, 6.75% due 2040 | Weatherford Delaware
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	6.75%		6.75%
Senior Notes, 4.50% due 2022 | Weatherford Delaware
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	4.50%		4.50%
Senior Notes, 5.95% due 2042 | Weatherford Delaware
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	5.95%		5.95%
Exchangeable Senior Notes, 5.875 Percent due 2021 | Weatherford Delaware
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	5.875%		5.875%
Senior Notes, 7.75 Percent due 2021 | Weatherford Delaware
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	7.75%		7.75%
Senior Notes, 8.25 Percent due 2023 | Weatherford Delaware
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	8.25%		8.25%
Senior Notes, 9.875 Percent due 2024 | Weatherford Delaware
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	9.875%		9.875%
Senior Notes, 9.875 Percent due 2025
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt		9.875%
Senior Notes, 9.875 Percent due 2025 | Weatherford Delaware
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	9.875%