Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 10, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Oct. 10, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Successor
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues		$ 29,717
Operating expenses		36,800
Gain (loss) on sale of oil and natural gas properties		24
Total operating loss		(7,059)
Other income (expense)		(1,926)
Income tax expense (benefit)		0
Net (loss) income attributable to Centennial Resource Development, Inc.		$ (8,081)
Loss per share, basic (in dollars per share)		$ (0.05)
Income (loss) per share, diluted (in dollars per share)		$ (0.05)
Predecessor
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 3,327		$ 27,321	$ 23,347	$ 15,121	$ 21,720	$ 21,893	$ 22,431	$ 24,416	$ 69,116	$ 90,460	$ 131,825
Operating expenses	183,465		32,228	30,251	29,855	42,024	30,442	37,184	36,656	275,799	146,306	150,166
Gain (loss) on sale of oil and natural gas properties	0		15	0	(4)	(249)	9	4	2,675	11	2,439	(2,096)
Total operating loss	(180,138)		(4,892)	(6,904)	(14,738)	(20,553)	(8,540)	(14,749)	(9,565)	(206,672)	(53,407)	(20,437)
Other income (expense)	(2,858)		(242)	(9,635)	277	6,938	11,866	(7,922)	3,628	(12,458)	14,510	39,749
Income tax expense (benefit)	0		0	406	0	572	0	0	0	(406)	(572)	1,524
Net (loss) income attributable to Centennial Resource Development, Inc.	$ (182,996)		$ (5,134)	$ (16,133)	$ (14,461)	$ (13,043)	$ 3,326	$ (22,671)	$ (5,937)	$ (218,724)	$ (38,325)	$ 17,790