Supplemental Condensed Consolidated Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	2 Months Ended	3 Months Ended					8 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Aug. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Aug. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (loss)	$ (6,736)	$ 128,615	$ (215,565)	$ (803,674)	$ (207,789)	$ (8,017)	$ (2,282)	$ (890,624)	$ (218,088)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0			487			0	481
Comprehensive income (loss)	(6,736)	128,615			(207,302)	(8,047)	(2,258)	(890,624)	(217,607)
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	2,232	73,484			(903)			40,388	811
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	$ (8,968)	55,131			(206,399)			(931,012)	(218,418)
Unrealized income (loss) on securities, tax					(45)				(47)
Unrealized loss on securities, net of tax		0				$ (30)	$ 24	0
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (loss)		250,660			202,177			1,241,121	197,318
Other comprehensive income (loss)					0				0
Comprehensive income (loss)		250,660			202,177			1,241,121	197,318
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest		(73,484)			0			(40,388)	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation		324,144			202,177			1,281,509	197,318
Unrealized income (loss) on securities, tax					0				0
Unrealized loss on securities, net of tax		0						0
Parent [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (loss)		128,615			(206,886)			(890,624)	(218,899)
Other comprehensive income (loss)					0				0
Comprehensive income (loss)		128,615			(206,886)			(890,624)	(218,899)
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest		73,484			0			40,388	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation		55,131			(206,886)			(931,012)	(218,899)
Unrealized income (loss) on securities, tax					0				0
Unrealized loss on securities, net of tax		0						0
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (loss)		(184,592)			(201,110)			(1,108,875)	(197,596)
Other comprehensive income (loss)					487				481
Comprehensive income (loss)		(184,592)			(200,623)			(1,108,875)	(197,115)
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest		0			0			0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation		(184,592)			(200,623)			(1,108,875)	(197,115)
Unrealized income (loss) on securities, tax					(45)				(47)
Unrealized loss on securities, net of tax		0						0
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net Income (loss)		(66,068)			(1,970)			(132,246)	1,089
Other comprehensive income (loss)					0				0
Comprehensive income (loss)		(66,068)			(1,970)			(132,246)	1,089
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest		73,484			(903)			40,388	811
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation		(139,552)			(1,067)			(172,634)	278
Unrealized income (loss) on securities, tax					$ 0				$ 0
Unrealized loss on securities, net of tax		$ 0						$ 0