Supplemental Condensed Consolidated Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (loss)	$ (215,565)	$ (8,017)	$ (1,019,239)	$ (10,299)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	(30)	0	(6)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(215,565)	(8,047)	(1,019,239)	(10,305)
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	84	492	(33,096)	1,714
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	(215,649)	(8,539)	(986,143)	(12,019)
Unrealized income (loss) on securities, tax	0	(9)	0	(2)
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (loss)	201,306	6,051	995,283	(4,859)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	201,306	6,051	995,283	(4,859)
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	(84)	0	33,096	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	201,390	6,051	962,187	(4,859)
Unrealized income (loss) on securities, tax	0	0	0	0
Parent [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (loss)	(215,565)	(8,509)	(1,019,239)	(12,013)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	(215,565)	(8,509)	(1,019,239)	(12,013)
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	84	0	(33,096)	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	(215,649)	(8,509)	(986,143)	(12,013)
Unrealized income (loss) on securities, tax	0	0	0	0
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (loss)	(201,494)	(6,258)	(929,105)	3,514
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	(30)	0	(6)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(201,494)	(6,288)	(929,105)	3,508
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	(201,494)	(6,288)	(929,105)	3,508
Unrealized income (loss) on securities, tax	0	(9)	0	(2)
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (loss)	188	699	(66,178)	3,059
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	188	699	(66,178)	3,059
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	84	492	(33,096)	1,714
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	104	207	(33,082)	1,345
Unrealized income (loss) on securities, tax	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0