Subsidiary Guarantors Consolidated Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 544,276	$ 264,422	$ 318,033
Total expenses	383,435	441,589	1,124,695
Operating (loss) income	160,841	(177,167)	(806,662)
Net gain on asset sales and inventory impairment	23	107,277	908
Interest expense	(34,565)	(28,199)	(21,754)
Other income	3,551	(4)	616
Earnings in subsidiaries	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	129,850	(98,093)	(826,892)
Total income tax (benefit) provision	(8,157)	(1,036)	(147,368)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	(12,140)	(364)	(261)
Net income (loss) attributable to Matador Resources Company shareholders	125,867	(97,421)	(679,785)
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	(35,115)	(10,708)	(4,344)
Total expenses	(35,115)	(10,708)	(4,344)
Operating (loss) income	0	0
Net gain on asset sales and inventory impairment	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0
Other income			0
Earnings in subsidiaries	(171,840)	54,539	656,240
Income (loss) before income taxes	(171,840)	54,539	656,240
Total income tax (benefit) provision	0	0	0
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Matador Resources Company shareholders	(171,840)	54,539	656,240
Parent Company [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	0
Total expenses	5,610	5,319	5,739
Operating (loss) income	(5,610)	(5,319)	(5,739)
Net gain on asset sales and inventory impairment	0	0	0
Interest expense	(34,565)	(28,199)	(20,511)
Other income	27		0
Earnings in subsidiaries	157,589	(64,349)	(658,698)
Income (loss) before income taxes	117,441	(97,867)	(684,948)
Total income tax (benefit) provision	(8,426)	(446)	(5,163)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Matador Resources Company shareholders	125,867	(97,421)	(679,785)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	47,883	17,302	6,310
Total expenses	21,260	7,031	2,944
Operating (loss) income	26,623	10,271	3,366
Net gain on asset sales and inventory impairment	0	0	0
Interest expense	0		0
Other income	37	0	0
Earnings in subsidiaries	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	26,660	10,271	3,366
Total income tax (benefit) provision	269	97	647
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	(12,140)	(364)	(261)
Net income (loss) attributable to Matador Resources Company shareholders	14,251	9,810	2,458
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	531,508	257,828	316,067
Total expenses	391,680	439,947	1,120,356
Operating (loss) income	139,828	(182,119)	(804,289)
Net gain on asset sales and inventory impairment	23	107,277	908
Interest expense		0	(1,243)
Other income	3,487	(4)	616
Earnings in subsidiaries	14,251	9,810	2,458
Income (loss) before income taxes	157,589	(65,036)	(801,550)
Total income tax (benefit) provision	0	(687)	(142,852)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Matador Resources Company shareholders	$ 157,589	$ (64,349)	$ (658,698)