Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all debt, including all short-term borrowings, long-term debt, and capital lease obligations.

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Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

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Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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Amount of the required periodic payments applied to principal.

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The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

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Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

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Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

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Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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Amount of long-term debt and capital leases due within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt, classified as current. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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Amount of borrowings from a bank classified as other, maturing within one year or operating cycle, if longer.

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Reflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Debt Instrument, Covenant, Asset Coverage Ratio

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Debt Instrument, Covenant, Initial Current Asset Coverage Ratio

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Debt Instrument, Covenant, Secondary Current Asset Coverage Ratio

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Debt Instrument, Covenant, Senior Leverage Ratio, Period Two

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Debt Instrument, Covenant, Specified Leverage and Letter of Credit Ratio, Period Two

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Letters of Credit Outstanding, Cash Collateral

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Line of Credit Facility Reduction in Borrowing Capacity

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Short-term Borrowings and Other Debt Obligations Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 26, 2017	Jul. 01, 2016
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 1,156,000,000	$ 1,156,000,000
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	7,662,000,000	$ 7,662,000,000		$ 7,678,000,000
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Senior Leverage Ratio, Period Two		2.5
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Specified Leverage and Letter of Credit Ratio, Period Two		3.5
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Asset Coverage Ratio		4.0
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Initial Current Asset Coverage Ratio		1.5
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Secondary Current Asset Coverage Ratio		2.1
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity	325,000,000	$ 325,000,000
Current Portion of Long-term Debt	57,000,000	57,000,000		137,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short-term Debt	317,000,000	317,000,000
Committed Letters of Credit [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	204,000,000	204,000,000
Cash collateralized	81,000,000	81,000,000
Domestic and Foreign Facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Short term borrowings	9,000,000	9,000,000
Uncommitted Letters of Credit [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	291,000,000	291,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	846,000,000	846,000,000
A&R Credit Agreement [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	529,000,000	529,000,000
Term Loan Borrowings before Debt Issuance Cost [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	310,000,000	310,000,000
Senior Notes, 9.875% due 2024 [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Long-term Debt					$ 540,000,000	$ 250,000,000
Term Loan Agreement [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	308,000,000	308,000,000		372,000,000
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal		$ 12,500,000
Senior Notes, 6.00% due 2018 [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage							6.00%
Senior Notes, 6.35% due 2017 [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage							6.35%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| 364-day credit agreement [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		3.05%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Term Loan Agreement [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		2.30%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Term Loan Agreement [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		1.425%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Term Loan Agreement [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		3.20%
Base Rate [Member] \| Term Loan Agreement [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		0.425%
Base Rate [Member] \| Term Loan Agreement [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		2.20%
Extending Lenders [Member] \| A&R Credit Agreement [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	303,000,000	$ 303,000,000
Line of Credit Facility Reduction in Borrowing Capacity	54,000,000
Extending Lenders [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| A&R Credit Agreement [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		3.55%
Nonextending Lenders [Member] \| A&R Credit Agreement [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	226,000,000	$ 226,000,000
Nonextending Lenders [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| A&R Credit Agreement [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		2.80%
Capital and Other Lease Obligations [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	69,000,000	$ 69,000,000		86,000,000
Term Loan Agreement [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	50,000,000	50,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Notes, 9.875% due 2024 [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 781,000,000	$ 781,000,000		780,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage						9.875%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Notes, 9.875% due 2024 [Member] \| Weatherford Delaware [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	9.875%	9.875%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Notes, 6.00% due 2018 [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations	$ 0	$ 0		$ 66,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			6.00%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Notes, 6.00% due 2018 [Member] \| Weatherford Delaware [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	6.00%	6.00%		6.00%
Senior Notes [Member] \| Senior Notes, 6.35% due 2017 [Member] \| Weatherford Bermuda [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage				6.35%	6.35%