Supplemental Condensed Consolidated Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	4 Months Ended	8 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net loss	$ (13,988)	$ (890,624)	$ (553,828)
Reclassification adjustment for write-down of securities, net of tax	0	0	481
Unrealized loss on securities, tax			(47)
Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Write-down of Securities, Tax	0	0	(47)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(13,988)	(890,624)	(553,347)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest	4,152	40,388	51
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	$ (18,140)	(931,012)	(553,398)
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net loss		1,241,121	508,439
Reclassification adjustment for write-down of securities, net of tax		0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)		1,241,121	508,439
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest		(40,388)	(51)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation		1,281,509	508,490
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net loss		(890,624)	(553,828)
Reclassification adjustment for write-down of securities, net of tax		0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)		(890,624)	(553,828)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest		40,388	51
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation		(931,012)	(553,879)
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net loss		(1,108,875)	(508,164)
Reclassification adjustment for write-down of securities, net of tax		0	481
Unrealized loss on securities, tax			(47)
Comprehensive income (loss)		(1,108,875)	(507,683)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest		0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation		(1,108,875)	(507,683)
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net loss		(132,246)	(275)
Reclassification adjustment for write-down of securities, net of tax		0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)		(132,246)	(275)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest		40,388	51
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation		$ (172,634)	$ (326)