Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Schedule of Earnings (Loss) Per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Earnings (loss) of basic income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation per common share	$ 80,093	$ (12,994)	$ 33,216	$ (14,931)
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Diluted	$ 80,093	$ (12,994)	$ 33,216	$ (14,931)
Weighted shares of basic earnings (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation per common share	10,025,000	11,901,000	10,037,000	11,950,000
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	10,248,000	11,901,000	10,226,000	11,950,000
Per-Share amount of basic earnings (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation per common share	$ 7.99	$ (1.09)	$ 3.31	$ (1.25)
Income of effect of dilutive stock options and restricted stock	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Weighted shares of effect of dilutive stock options and restricted stock	223,000	0	189,000	0
Per-Share amount of effect of dilutive stock options and restricted stock	$ (0.17)	$ 0	$ (0.06)	$ 0
Diluted	$ 7.82	$ (1.09)	$ 3.25	$ (1.25)
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings (loss) per share	1,822,203	77,863	1,822,203	39,147
Exercise price of warrants (in dollars per share)	$ 63.74		$ 63.74
Stock Options
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings (loss) per share			361,418
Exercise price of warrants (in dollars per share)	$ 45.00		$ 45.00