Debt (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany receivable	$ 0	$ 0
Other current assets	309,976	279,182
Net property and equipment	1,373,215	1,184,525
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Other long-term assets	3,202	958
Total assets	1,686,393	1,464,665	$ 1,164,152
Intercompany payable	0	0
Other current liabilities	167,305	169,505
Senior unsecured notes payable	573,968	573,924
Other long-term liabilities	29,624	29,791
Total equity attributable to Matador Resources Company	852,265	690,125
Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	63,231	1,320
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	1,686,393	1,464,665
Eliminating Entries [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany receivable	(392,675)	(332,453)
Other current assets	0	0
Net property and equipment	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	(1,118,286)	(947,037)
Other long-term assets	0	0
Total assets	(1,510,961)	(1,279,490)
Intercompany payable	(392,675)	(332,453)
Other current liabilities	0	0
Senior unsecured notes payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	0	0
Total equity attributable to Matador Resources Company	(1,118,286)	(947,037)
Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	0	0
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	(1,510,961)	(1,279,490)
Matador [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany receivable	389,913	316,791
Other current assets	1,850	101,102
Net property and equipment	4	33
Investment in subsidiaries	1,052,474	856,762
Other long-term assets	0	0
Total assets	1,444,241	1,274,688
Intercompany payable	0	0
Other current liabilities	18,008	9,265
Senior unsecured notes payable	573,968	573,924
Other long-term liabilities	0	1,374
Total equity attributable to Matador Resources Company	852,265	690,125
Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	0	0
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	1,444,241	1,274,688
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany receivable	2,762	3,571
Other current assets	15,153	4,242
Net property and equipment	124,974	113,107
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Other long-term assets	0	0
Total assets	142,889	120,920
Intercompany payable	0	12,091
Other current liabilities	13,272	16,632
Senior unsecured notes payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	574	602
Total equity attributable to Matador Resources Company	65,812	90,275
Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	63,231	1,320
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	142,889	120,920
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany receivable	0	12,091
Other current assets	292,973	173,838
Net property and equipment	1,248,237	1,071,385
Investment in subsidiaries	65,812	90,275
Other long-term assets	3,202	958
Total assets	1,610,224	1,348,547
Intercompany payable	392,675	320,362
Other current liabilities	136,025	143,608
Senior unsecured notes payable	0	0
Other long-term liabilities	29,050	27,815
Total equity attributable to Matador Resources Company	1,052,474	856,762
Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	0	0
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 1,610,224	$ 1,348,547