Document and Entity Information - $ / shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 15, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	L2
Document Quarterly Report	true
Common Shares, Par Value (in USD)	$ 0.001		$ 0.001
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-36504
Entity Tax Identification Number	98-0606750
Entity Address, Address Line One	2000 St. James Place
Entity Address, City or Town	Houston
Entity Address, Country	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	77056
Title of 12(b) Security	Ordinary shares, $0.001 par value per share
Trading Symbol	WFTIQ
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
City Area Code	713
Local Phone Number	836.4000
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Registrant Name	Weatherford International plc
Entity Central Index Key	0001603923
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,004,200,634
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false