Cover Page - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jul. 31, 2019
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-13726
Entity Registrant Name	CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	OK
Entity Tax Identification Number	73-1395733
Entity Address, Address Line One	6100 North Western Avenue,
Entity Address, City or Town	Oklahoma City,
Entity Address, State or Province	OK
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	73118
City Area Code	(405)
Local Phone Number	848-8000
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,634,513,223
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity Central Index Key	0000895126
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Common Stock, par value $0.01
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01
Trading Symbol	CHK
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
6.625% Senior Notes due 2020
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	6.625% Senior Notes due 2020
Trading Symbol	CHK20A
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
6.875% Senior Notes due 2020
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	6.875% Senior Notes due 2020
Trading Symbol	CHK20
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
6.125% Senior Notes due 2021
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	6.125% Senior Notes due 2021
Trading Symbol	CHK21
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
5.375% Senior Notes due 2021
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	5.375% Senior Notes due 2021
Trading Symbol	CHK21A
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
4.875% Senior Notes due 2022
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	4.875% Senior Notes due 2022
Trading Symbol	CHK22
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
5.75% Senior Notes due 2023
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	5.75% Senior Notes due 2023
Trading Symbol	CHK23
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
4.50% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	4.5% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock
Trading Symbol	CHK Pr D
Security Exchange Name	NYSE