Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended													12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019		Sep. 30, 2019		Jun. 30, 2019		Mar. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018		Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenues		$ 164,358,000	[1]	$ 155,439,000	[1]	$ 165,146,000	[1]	$ 189,691,000	[1]	$ 214,788,000		$ 220,058,000	$ 203,303,000	$ 205,132,000	$ 674,634,000	$ 843,281,000	$ 739,640,000
Gross income (loss)	[2]	(393,983,000)		(242,308,000)		813,000		24,095,000		(108,068,000)		49,216,000	40,915,000	38,833,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation		$ (334,980,000)	[3]	$ (206,886,000)	[4]	$ (8,509,000)		$ (3,504,000)		$ (77,840,000)	[5]	$ 18,899,000	$ 5,788,000	$ 7,865,000	$ (553,879,000)	$ (45,288,000)	$ 117,848,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation per common share:
Basic		$ (6.33)		$ (3.91)		$ (0.16)		$ (0.07)		$ (1.49)		$ 0.36	$ 0.11	$ 0.15	$ (10.48)	$ (0.87)	$ 2.31
Diluted		$ (6.33)		$ (3.91)		$ (0.16)		$ (0.07)		$ (1.49)		$ 0.36	$ 0.11	$ 0.15	$ (10.48)	$ (0.87)	$ 2.28
Ceiling test wrtie-down		$ 390,100,000		$ 169,300,000											$ 559,400,000	$ 0	$ 0
Non-cash ceiling test write-down net of tax		$ 294,500,000		$ 127,900,000											422,400,000
Goodwill impairment															62,800,000	0	$ 0
Goodwill, Impairment Loss, Net of Tax															$ 59,800,000
Drilling
Net income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation per common share:
Impairment of Drilling Equipment																$ 147,900,000

[1] In 2019, revenues dropped significantly each quarter due to lower commodity prices, production, and drilling rig utilization.

[2] 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).

[3] During the fourth quarter of 2019, we recorded a non-cash ceiling test write-down of $390.1 million pre-tax ($294.5 million, net of tax).

[4] During the third quarter of 2019, we recorded a non-cash ceiling test write-down of $169.3 million pre-tax ($127.9 million, net of tax). We also recognized goodwill impairment charges of $62.8 million, pre-tax ($59.8 million, net of tax).

[5] In the fourth quarter of 2018, we recorded an impairment for contract drilling equipment that included a $147.9 million pre-tax write-down for 41 drilling rigs and other drilling equipment.