Debt (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 126,279	$ 88,733	$ 390,703	$ 179,449
Total expenses	99,730	71,879	270,887	364,835
Operating income (loss)	26,549	16,854	119,816	(185,386)
Net gain on asset sales and inventory impairment	16	1,073	23	3,140
Interest expense	(8,550)	(6,880)	(26,229)	(20,244)
Other (expense) income	(36)	(141)	1,956	(17)
Earnings in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	17,979	10,906	95,566	(202,507)
Total income tax (benefit) provision	0	(1,141)	0	(1,141)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	(2,940)	(116)	(8,034)	(209)
Net income (loss) attributable to Matador Resources Company shareholders	15,039	11,931	87,532	(201,575)
Eliminating Entries [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	(7,638)	(3,225)	(23,996)	(5,860)
Total expenses	(7,638)	(3,225)	(23,996)	(5,860)
Net gain on asset sales and inventory impairment	0	0	0	0
Earnings in subsidiaries	(27,671)	(22,605)	(127,640)	172,563
Income (loss) before income taxes	(27,671)	(22,605)	(127,640)	172,563
Total income tax (benefit) provision	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Matador Resources Company shareholders	(27,671)	(22,605)	(127,640)	172,563
Matador [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total expenses	1,175	1,018	4,021	3,985
Operating income (loss)	(1,175)	(1,018)	(4,021)	(3,985)
Net gain on asset sales and inventory impairment	0	0
Interest expense	(8,550)	(6,880)	(26,229)	(20,244)
Other (expense) income	27		27
Earnings in subsidiaries	24,674	19,800	117,574	(177,400)
Income (loss) before income taxes	14,976	11,902	87,351	(201,629)
Total income tax (benefit) provision	(63)	(29)	(181)	(54)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Matador Resources Company shareholders	15,039	11,931	87,532	(201,575)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	11,242	4,993	32,179	9,520
Total expenses	5,253	2,043	13,935	4,420
Operating income (loss)	5,989	2,950	18,244	5,100
Net gain on asset sales and inventory impairment	0	0	0	0
Other (expense) income	11		37
Earnings in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	6,000	2,950	18,281	5,100
Total income tax (benefit) provision	63	29	181	54
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	(2,940)	(116)	(8,034)	(209)
Net income (loss) attributable to Matador Resources Company shareholders	2,997	2,805	10,066	4,837
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	122,675	86,965	382,520	175,789
Total expenses	100,940	72,043	276,927	362,290
Operating income (loss)	21,735	14,922	105,593	(186,501)
Net gain on asset sales and inventory impairment	16	1,073	23	3,140
Other (expense) income	(74)	(141)	1,892	(17)
Earnings in subsidiaries	2,997	2,805	10,066	4,837
Income (loss) before income taxes	24,674	18,659	117,574	(178,541)
Total income tax (benefit) provision	0	(1,141)	0	(1,141)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Matador Resources Company shareholders	$ 24,674	$ 19,800	$ 117,574	$ (177,400)