Supplemental Condensed Consolidated Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	$ (553,828)	$ (39,767)	$ 117,848
Reclassification adjustment for write-down of securities, net of tax of ($47), $0, and $0	481	0	0
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities, net of tax of $0, ($181), and $39	0	(557)	63
Unrealized loss on securities, tax	0	(181)	39
Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Write-down of Securities, Tax	(47)	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	(553,347)	(40,324)	117,911
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest	51	5,521	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	(553,398)	(45,845)	117,911
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	508,439	(8,638)	(136,388)
Reclassification adjustment for write-down of securities, net of tax of ($47), $0, and $0	0
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities, net of tax of $0, ($181), and $39		0	0
Unrealized loss on securities, tax		0	0
Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Write-down of Securities, Tax	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	508,439	(8,638)	(136,388)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest	(51)	(5,521)	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	508,490	(3,117)	(136,388)
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	(553,828)	(39,767)	117,848
Reclassification adjustment for write-down of securities, net of tax of ($47), $0, and $0	0
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities, net of tax of $0, ($181), and $39		0	0
Unrealized loss on securities, tax		0	0
Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Write-down of Securities, Tax	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	(553,828)	(39,767)	117,848
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest	51	5,521	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	(553,879)	(45,288)	117,848
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	(508,164)	(19,135)	108,564
Reclassification adjustment for write-down of securities, net of tax of ($47), $0, and $0	481
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities, net of tax of $0, ($181), and $39		(557)	63
Unrealized loss on securities, tax		(181)	39
Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Write-down of Securities, Tax	(47)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(507,683)	(19,692)	108,627
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	(507,683)	(19,692)	108,627
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	(275)	10,497	27,824
Reclassification adjustment for write-down of securities, net of tax of ($47), $0, and $0	0
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities, net of tax of $0, ($181), and $39		0	0
Unrealized loss on securities, tax		0	0
Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Write-down of Securities, Tax	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	(275)	10,497	27,824
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest	51	5,521	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	$ (326)	$ 4,976	$ 27,824