Document and Entity Information Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Feb. 28, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-9260
Entity Registrant Name	UNIT CORPORATION
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	73-1283193
Entity Address, Address Line One	8200 South Unit Drive,
Entity Address, City or Town	Tulsa,
Entity Address, State or Province	OK
Entity Address, Country	US
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	74132
City Area Code	(918)
Local Phone Number	493-7700
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $.20 per share
Trading Symbol	UNT
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 467,332,169
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		55,423,610
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Central Index Key	0000798949
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31