Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017		Sep. 30, 2017		Jun. 30, 2017		Mar. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenues		$ 214,788	$ 220,058	$ 203,303	$ 205,132	$ 204,847		$ 188,488		$ 170,581		$ 175,724		$ 843,281	$ 739,640	$ 602,177
Gross income (loss)	[1]	(108,068)	49,216	40,915	38,833	37,211		27,181		24,462		32,657
Net income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation		$ (77,840)	$ 18,899	$ 5,788	$ 7,865	$ 89,155		$ 3,705		$ 9,059		$ 15,929		$ (45,288)	$ 117,848	$ (135,624)
Net income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation per common share:
Basic		$ (1.49)	$ 0.36	$ 0.11	$ 0.15	$ 1.74	[2]	$ 0.07	[2]	$ 0.18	[2]	$ 0.32	[2]	$ (0.87)	$ 2.31	$ (2.71)
Diluted		$ (1.49)	$ 0.36	$ 0.11	$ 0.15	$ 1.71	[2]	$ 0.07	[2]	$ 0.17	[2]	$ 0.31	[2]	$ (0.87)	$ 2.28	$ (2.71)

[1] Gross income (loss) excludes general and administrative expense, interest expense, (gain) loss on disposition of assets, gain (loss) on derivatives, income taxes, and other income (loss).

[2] The earnings per share for the year's four quarters does not equal annual income per share.