Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 1,423	$ 1,386
Costs and Expenses	(1,462)	(1,600)
Operating Income (Loss)	(39)	(214)
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net	(149)	(141)
Intercompany Charges, Net	0	0
Equity in Subsidiary Income (Loss)	0	0
Other, Net	(22)	(55)
Loss Before Income Taxes	(210)	(410)
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes	(32)	(33)
Net Loss	(242)	(443)
Noncontrolling Interests	3	5
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(245)	(448)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(240)	(405)
Other Subsidiaries
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	1,423	1,386
Costs and Expenses	(1,464)	(1,617)
Operating Income (Loss)	(41)	(231)
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net	4	4
Intercompany Charges, Net	(594)	9
Equity in Subsidiary Income (Loss)	0	0
Other, Net	(157)	223
Loss Before Income Taxes	(788)	5
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes	(32)	(33)
Net Loss	(820)	(28)
Noncontrolling Interests	3	5
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(823)	(33)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(818)	10
Weatherford Ireland
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Costs and Expenses	2	(3)
Operating Income (Loss)	2	(3)
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net	0	0
Intercompany Charges, Net	(18)	1
Equity in Subsidiary Income (Loss)	(275)	(384)
Other, Net	46	(62)
Loss Before Income Taxes	(245)	(448)
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes	0	0
Net Loss	(245)	(448)
Noncontrolling Interests	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(245)	(448)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(240)	(405)
Weatherford Bermuda
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Costs and Expenses	0	20
Operating Income (Loss)	0	20
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net	(144)	(139)
Intercompany Charges, Net	(3)	(8)
Equity in Subsidiary Income (Loss)	(350)	172
Other, Net	90	(216)
Loss Before Income Taxes	(407)	(171)
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes	0	0
Net Loss	(407)	(171)
Noncontrolling Interests	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(407)	(171)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(401)	(176)
Weatherford Delaware
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Costs and Expenses	0	0
Operating Income (Loss)	0	0
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net	(14)	(21)
Intercompany Charges, Net	11	(2)
Equity in Subsidiary Income (Loss)	(133)	219
Other, Net	122	(139)
Loss Before Income Taxes	(14)	57
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes	0	0
Net Loss	(14)	57
Noncontrolling Interests	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(14)	57
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(2)	(26)
Eliminations
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Costs and Expenses	0	0
Operating Income (Loss)	0	0
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net	5	15
Intercompany Charges, Net	(604)	0
Equity in Subsidiary Income (Loss)	758	(7)
Other, Net	(123)	139
Loss Before Income Taxes	1,244	147
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes	0	0
Net Loss	1,244	147
Noncontrolling Interests	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	1,244	147
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	$ 1,221	$ 192