Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 24, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	RESERVE PETROLEUM CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000083350
Trading Symbol	rsrv
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		157,846
Entity Public Float			$ 19,967,661
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false