Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity - 9 months ended Sep. 30, 2015 - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Preferred Stock	Preferred Stock Preferred Stock	Additional paid-in capital	Additional paid-in capital Preferred Stock	Retained earnings (deficit)	Treasury Stock	Total shareholders’ equity attributable to Matador Resources Company	Total shareholders’ equity attributable to Matador Resources Company Preferred Stock	Non-controlling interest in subsidiary
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014	73,342,777		73,374,000						31,000
Balance at January 1, 2015 at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 866,541		$ 734	$ 0		$ 724,819		$ 140,855	$ 0	$ 866,408		$ 133
Balance at January 1, 2015 at Dec. 31, 2014				0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock	260,252	$ 32,490	$ 104		$ 1	260,148	$ 32,489			260,252	$ 32,490
Issuance of common stock, shares			10,329,000		150,000
Cost to issue equity	(1,151)					(1,151)				(1,151)
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock, shares			1,500,000	150,000
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock			$ 15	$ (1)		(14)
Stock-based compensation expense related to equity-based awards	6,660					6,660				6,660
Stock options exercised, shares			(25,000)
Stock options exercised						10				10
Stock options exercised	10
Liability-based stock option awards settled			15,000
Liability-based stock option awards settled	467					467				467
Restricted stock issued, shares			392,000
Restricted stock issued			$ 4			(4)
Restricted stock forfeited, shares									136,000
Vesting of restricted stock units	1		$ 52			1				1
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Subsidiary Equity Issuance	600											600
Capital contribution from non-controlling interest owners in less-than-wholly-owned subsidiary	(38)											(38)
Current period net (loss) income	$ (449,228)							(449,384)		(449,384)		156
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2015	85,520,957		85,687,000						167,000
Balance at March 31, 2015 at Sep. 30, 2015	$ 716,604		$ 857	$ 0		$ 1,023,425		$ (308,529)	$ 0	$ 715,753		$ 851
Balance at March 31, 2015 at Sep. 30, 2015				0