Stockholders' Equity (Details 1) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Stock option activity in shares and weighted average price
Options outstanding, beginning of period, shares	1,375,281		1,361,779		1,289,194
Options outstanding, beginning of period, weighted average price	$ 32.46		$ 29.67		$ 29.72
Options granted, shares	336,092		307,394		273,463
Options granted, weighted average price	$ 32.39		$ 42.56		$ 25.28
Options canceled, shares	(42,047)		(67,529)		(36,983)
Options canceled, weighted average price	$ 41.20		$ 55.19		$ 44.65
Options exercised, shares	(83,732)	[1]	(226,363)	[1]	(163,895)	[1]
Options exercised, weighted average price	$ 14.70	[1]	$ 22.61	[1]	$ 18.11	[1]
Options outstanding, end of period, shares	1,585,594		1,375,281		1,361,779
Options outstanding, end of period, weighted average price	$ 33.13		$ 32.46		$ 29.67
Options exercisable, end of period, shares	990,957		734,985		749,447
Options exercisable, end of period, weighted average price	$ 32.39		$ 31.07		$ 32.04

[1] The plans allow for the use of a “stock swap” in lieu of a cash exercise for options, under certain circumstances. The delivery of Swift Energy common stock, held by the optionee for a minimum of six months, which are considered mature shares, with a fair market value equal to the required purchase price of the shares to which the exercise relates, constitutes a valid “stock swap.” Options issued under a “stock swap” also previously included a reload feature where additional options are granted at the then current market price when mature shares of Swift stock are used to satisfy the exercise price of an existing stock option grant. This reload feature was discontinued during 2012. The terms of the plans provide that the mature shares delivered, as full or partial payment in a “stock swap”, shall again be available for awards under the plans. Mature shares that were delivered in “stock swap” transactions which resulted in the issuance of an equal number of reload option were 20,692, 79,194 and 27,463 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, .