Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity - Unaudited - 9 months ended Sep. 30, 2016 - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional paid-in capital	Retained deficit	Treasury Stock	Total shareholders’ equity attributable to Matador Resources Company	Non-controlling interest in subsidiary
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2015	85,564,435	85,567,000			2,000
Balance at January 1, 2015 at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 488,959	$ 856	$ 1,026,077	$ (538,930)	$ 0	$ 488,003	$ 956
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock, shares		7,500,000
Issuance of common stock	142,350	$ 75	142,275			142,350
Cost to issue equity	(830)		(830)			(830)
Stock-based compensation expense related to equity-based awards	8,681		8,681			8,681
Stock options exercised, shares		(18,000)
Stock options exercised, net of options forfeited in net share settlements			0			0
Stock options exercised, net of options forfeited in net share settlements	0
Restricted stock issued, shares		465,000
Restricted stock issued		$ 5	(5)
Restricted stock forfeited, shares					114,000
Vesting of restricted stock units	0	$ 31	0			0
Current period net loss	$ (201,366)			(201,575)		(201,575)	209
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2016	93,290,199	93,581,000			116,000
Balance at June 30, 2016 at Sep. 30, 2016	$ 437,794	$ 936	$ 1,176,198	$ (740,505)	$ 0	$ 436,629	$ 1,165