Supplemental Condensed Consolidated Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net loss	$ (803,674)	$ (2,282)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	24
Comprehensive income (loss)	(803,674)	(2,258)
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	(33,180)	1,222
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	(770,494)	(3,480)
Unrealized income (loss) on securities, tax	0	7
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net loss	790,554	(10,910)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	790,554	(10,910)
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	33,180	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	757,374	(10,910)
Unrealized income (loss) on securities, tax	0	0
Parent [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net loss	(803,674)	(3,504)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	(803,674)	(3,504)
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	(33,180)	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	(770,494)	(3,504)
Unrealized income (loss) on securities, tax	0	0
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net loss	(724,188)	9,772
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	24
Comprehensive income (loss)	(724,188)	9,796
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	(724,188)	9,796
Unrealized income (loss) on securities, tax	0	7
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net loss	(66,366)	2,360
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	(66,366)	2,360
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	(33,180)	1,222
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	(33,186)	1,138
Unrealized income (loss) on securities, tax	$ 0	$ 0