Consolidating Financial Statements Narrative (Details)	Dec. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Feb. 28, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jun. 26, 2017	Jul. 01, 2016
Senior Notes, 6.80% due 2037 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Weatherford Bermuda [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	6.80%			6.80%
Senior Notes, 9.875 Percent due 2025 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt			9.875%
Senior Notes, 9.875 Percent due 2025 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Weatherford Delaware [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	9.875%
Senior Notes, 6.50% due 2036 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Weatherford Delaware [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	6.50%			6.50%
Senior Notes, 7.00% due 2038 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Weatherford Delaware [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	7.00%			7.00%
Senior Notes, 9.875% due 2039 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Weatherford Delaware [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	9.875%			9.875%
Senior Notes, 5.125% due 2020 [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt						5.125%
Senior Notes, 5.125% due 2020 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Weatherford Delaware [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	5.125%			5.125%
Senior Notes, 6.75% due 2040 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Weatherford Delaware [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	6.75%			6.75%
Senior Notes, 4.50% due 2022 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Weatherford Delaware [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	4.50%			4.50%
Senior Notes, 5.95% due 2042 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Weatherford Delaware [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	5.95%			5.95%
Exchangeable Senior Notes, 5.875 Percent due 2021 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Weatherford Delaware [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	5.875%			5.875%
Senior Notes, 7.75 Percent due 2021 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Weatherford Delaware [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	7.75%			7.75%
Senior Notes, 8.25 Percent due 2023 [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt				8.25%
Senior Notes, 8.25 Percent due 2023 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Weatherford Delaware [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	8.25%			8.25%
Senior Notes, 9.875% due 2024 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt					9.875%
Senior Notes, 9.875% due 2024 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Weatherford Delaware [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	9.875%
Senior Notes, 6.00% due 2018 [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt						6.00%
Senior Notes, 6.00% due 2018 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt		6.00%
Senior Notes, 6.00% due 2018 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Weatherford Delaware [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	6.00%			6.00%
Senior Notes, 9.625% due 2019 [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt						9.625%
Senior Notes, 9.625% due 2019 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt			9.625%
Senior Notes, 9.625% due 2019 [Member] | Senior Notes [Member] | Weatherford Delaware [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Stated interest rate on debt	9.625%			9.625%