Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 1,444	$ 1,460	$ 4,315	$ 4,209
Costs and Expenses	(1,457)	(1,530)	(4,440)	(4,638)
Operating Income (Loss)	(13)	(70)	(125)	(429)
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net	(156)	(148)	(457)	(427)
Intercompany Charges, Net	0	0	0	0
Income (Loss) from Subsidiary	0	0	0	0
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense), Including Foreign Currency Devaluation	(3)	(8)	(33)	72
Loss Before Income Taxes	(172)	(226)	(615)	(784)
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes	(22)	(25)	(80)	(75)
Net Loss	(194)	(251)	(695)	(859)
Noncontrolling Interests	5	5	13	16
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(199)	(256)	(708)	(875)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(208)	(168)	(877)	(754)
Other Subsidiaries
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	1,444	1,460	4,315	4,209
Costs and Expenses	(1,455)	(1,534)	(4,435)	(4,674)
Operating Income (Loss)	(11)	(74)	(120)	(465)
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net	5	6	14	21
Intercompany Charges, Net	(118)	60	(793)	189
Income (Loss) from Subsidiary	0	0	0	0
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense), Including Foreign Currency Devaluation	(55)	54	(240)	40
Loss Before Income Taxes	(179)	46	(1,139)	(215)
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes	(22)	(25)	(80)	75
Net Loss	(201)	21	(1,219)	(290)
Noncontrolling Interests	5	5	13	16
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(206)	16	(1,232)	(306)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(214)	104	(1,401)	(184)
Weatherford Ireland
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Costs and Expenses	(2)	(3)	(5)	(11)
Operating Income (Loss)	(2)	(3)	(5)	(11)
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net	0	0	0	0
Intercompany Charges, Net	6	(2)	(9)	(2)
Income (Loss) from Subsidiary	(214)	(244)	(761)	(924)
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense), Including Foreign Currency Devaluation	11	(7)	67	58
Loss Before Income Taxes	(199)	(256)	(708)	(875)
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes	0	0	0	0
Net Loss	(199)	(256)	(708)	(875)
Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(199)	(256)	(708)	(875)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	(208)	(168)	(877)	(754)
Weatherford Bermuda
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Costs and Expenses	0	6	0	45
Operating Income (Loss)	0	6	0	45
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net	(141)	(149)	(422)	(432)
Intercompany Charges, Net	113	1	115	89
Income (Loss) from Subsidiary	93	(518)	(229)	(650)
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense), Including Foreign Currency Devaluation	42	(54)	142	(23)
Loss Before Income Taxes	107	(714)	(394)	(1,149)
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes	0	0	0	0
Net Loss	107	(714)	(394)	(1,149)
Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	107	(714)	(394)	(1,149)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	91	(687)	(436)	(1,153)
Weatherford Delaware
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Costs and Expenses	0	1	0	2
Operating Income (Loss)	0	1	0	2
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net	(26)	(10)	(65)	(30)
Intercompany Charges, Net	(7)	(59)	(36)	102
Income (Loss) from Subsidiary	8	(445)	(148)	(265)
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense), Including Foreign Currency Devaluation	46	(53)	179	(1)
Loss Before Income Taxes	21	(566)	(70)	(396)
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes	0	0	0	0
Net Loss	21	(566)	(70)	(396)
Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	21	(566)	(70)	(396)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	16	(538)	(41)	(436)
Eliminations
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Costs and Expenses	0	0	0	0
Operating Income (Loss)	0	0	0	0
Other Income (Expense):
Interest Expense, Net	6	5	16	14
Intercompany Charges, Net	(6)	0	(723)	0
Income (Loss) from Subsidiary	113	1,207	1,138	1,839
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense), Including Foreign Currency Devaluation	(47)	52	(181)	(2)
Loss Before Income Taxes	78	1,264	1,696	1,851
(Provision) Benefit for Income Taxes	0	0	0	0
Net Loss	78	1,264	1,696	1,851
Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	78	1,264	1,696	1,851
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Weatherford	$ 107	$ 1,121	$ 1,878	$ 1,773