Cover Page - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Feb. 25, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2020
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-13726
Entity Registrant Name	CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000895126
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
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 Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 48
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		97,907,081
Documents Incorporated by Reference	DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCEPortions of the proxy statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference in Part III.
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Trading Symbol	CHK
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Class A Warrants to purchase Common Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A Warrants to purchase Common Stock
Trading Symbol	CHKEW
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Class B Warrants to purchase Common Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Class B Warrants to purchase Common Stock
Trading Symbol	CHKEZ
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Class C Warrants to purchase Common Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Class C Warrants to purchase Common Stock
Trading Symbol	CHKEL
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ