Debt (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany receivable	$ 0	$ 0
Third-party current assets	246,787	279,182
Net property and equipment	1,526,504	1,184,525
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Third-party long-term assets	3,785	958
Total assets	1,777,076	1,464,665	$ 1,086,088
Intercompany payable	0	0
Third-party current liabilities	212,184	169,505
Senior unsecured notes payable	573,988	573,924
Other third-party long-term liabilities	28,533	29,791
Total equity attributable to Matador Resources Company	889,742	690,125
Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	72,629	1,320
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	1,777,076	1,464,665
Eliminating Entries [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany receivable	(387,564)	(332,453)
Third-party current assets	0	0
Net property and equipment	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	(1,159,127)	(947,037)
Third-party long-term assets	0	0
Total assets	(1,546,691)	(1,279,490)
Intercompany payable	(387,564)	(332,453)
Third-party current liabilities	0	0
Senior unsecured notes payable	0	0
Other third-party long-term liabilities	0	0
Total equity attributable to Matador Resources Company	(1,159,127)	(947,037)
Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	0	0
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	(1,546,691)	(1,279,490)
Matador [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany receivable	385,885	316,791
Third-party current assets	2,944	101,102
Net property and equipment	0	33
Investment in subsidiaries	1,083,542	856,762
Third-party long-term assets	0	0
Total assets	1,472,371	1,274,688
Intercompany payable	0	0
Third-party current liabilities	8,640	9,265
Senior unsecured notes payable	573,988	573,924
Other third-party long-term liabilities	0	1,374
Total equity attributable to Matador Resources Company	889,743	690,125
Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	0	0
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	1,472,371	1,274,688
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany receivable	0	3,571
Third-party current assets	16,953	4,242
Net property and equipment	151,331	113,107
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Third-party long-term assets	0	0
Total assets	168,284	120,920
Intercompany payable	1,679	12,091
Third-party current liabilities	17,753	16,632
Senior unsecured notes payable	0	0
Other third-party long-term liabilities	639	602
Total equity attributable to Matador Resources Company	75,584	90,275
Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	72,629	1,320
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	168,284	120,920
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany receivable	1,679	12,091
Third-party current assets	226,890	173,838
Net property and equipment	1,375,173	1,071,385
Investment in subsidiaries	75,585	90,275
Third-party long-term assets	3,785	958
Total assets	1,683,112	1,348,547
Intercompany payable	385,885	320,362
Third-party current liabilities	185,791	143,608
Senior unsecured notes payable	0	0
Other third-party long-term liabilities	27,894	27,815
Total equity attributable to Matador Resources Company	1,083,542	856,762
Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	0	0
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$ 1,683,112	$ 1,348,547