Segment Information (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	$ 30,015,000	$ 45,237,000	$ 90,185,000	$ 143,477,000
Impairment of Oil and Gas Properties	0	285,721,000	158,633,000	581,874,000
Oil and natural gas revenues	83,079,000	71,815,000	196,341,000	222,128,000
Third-party midstream services revenues	1,566,000	569,000	2,956,000	1,384,000
Realized gain on derivatives	885,000	19,862,000	10,413,000	52,146,000
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives	3,203,000	6,733,000	(30,261,000)	(25,356,000)
Expenses (1)	71,879,000	367,633,000	364,835,000	833,947,000
Operating Income (Loss)	16,854,000	(268,654,000)	(185,386,000)	(583,645,000)
Other income (expense) (2)	(5,948,000)	(6,665,000)	(17,121,000)	(14,628,000)
Income (loss) before income taxes	10,906,000	(275,319,000)	(202,507,000)	(598,273,000)
Income tax (benefit) provision	(1,141,000)	(33,305,000)	(1,141,000)	(149,045,000)
Net income (loss)	12,047,000	(242,014,000)	(201,366,000)	(449,228,000)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	(116,000)	(45,000)	(209,000)	(156,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Matador Resources Company shareholders	11,931,000	(242,059,000)	(201,575,000)	(449,384,000)
Total Assets	1,177,693,000	1,280,522,000	1,177,693,000	1,280,522,000	$ 1,140,861,000
Capital Expenditures	135,552,000	90,524,000	333,501,000	356,094,000
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	300,000	100,000	600,000	300,000
Third-party midstream services revenues	0	0	0	0
Expenses (1)	13,423,000	12,224,000	40,089,000	38,823,000
Operating Income (Loss)	(13,423,000)	(12,224,000)	(40,089,000)	(38,823,000)
Total Assets	32,892,000	28,150,000	32,892,000	28,150,000
Capital Expenditures	1,903,000	315,000	5,485,000	394,000
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Third-party midstream services revenues	(4,043,000)	(3,317,000)	(8,212,000)	(6,910,000)
Expenses (1)	(4,043,000)	(3,317,000)	(8,212,000)	(6,910,000)
Total Assets	0	0	0	0
Capital Expenditures	0	0	0	0
Exploration and Production Segment [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	28,900,000	44,600,000	87,900,000	142,000,000
Impairment of Oil and Gas Properties		285,700,000	158,600,000	581,900,000
Oil and natural gas revenues	82,794,000	71,665,000	195,467,000	221,768,000
Third-party midstream services revenues	0	0	0	0
Realized gain on derivatives	885,000	19,862,000	10,413,000	52,146,000
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives	3,203,000	6,733,000	(30,261,000)	(25,356,000)
Expenses (1)	60,222,000	356,762,000	327,585,000	798,044,000
Operating Income (Loss)	26,660,000	(258,502,000)	(151,966,000)	(549,486,000)
Total Assets	1,020,648,000	1,169,283,000	1,020,648,000	1,169,283,000
Capital Expenditures	116,279,000	77,990,000	278,396,000	307,896,000
Midstream Segment [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	800,000	500,000	1,700,000	1,200,000
Oil and natural gas revenues	285,000	150,000	874,000	360,000
Third-party midstream services revenues	5,609,000	3,886,000	11,168,000	8,294,000
Expenses (1)	2,277,000	1,964,000	5,373,000	3,990,000
Operating Income (Loss)	3,617,000	2,072,000	6,669,000	4,664,000
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	(116,000)	(45,000)	(209,000)	(156,000)
Total Assets	124,153,000	83,089,000	124,153,000	83,089,000
Capital Expenditures	$ 17,370,000	$ 12,219,000	$ 49,620,000	$ 47,804,000