Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity - Unaudited - 6 months ended Jun. 30, 2018 - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional paid-in capital	Accumulated deficit	Treasury Stock	Total shareholders’ equity attributable to Matador Resources Company	Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]	Convertible Preferred Stock [Member] Additional paid-in capital	Convertible Preferred Stock [Member] Total shareholders’ equity attributable to Matador Resources Company
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures		717,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Gross	$ 0	$ 7	$ (7)			$ 0
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2017	108,510,160	108,514,000			3,000
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 1,257,546	$ 1,085	1,666,024	$ (510,484)	$ (69)	1,156,556	$ 100,990
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock compensation plan, shares		7,000,000
Issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock compensation plan		$ 70						$ 226,612	$ 226,542	$ 226,612
Common stock issued to Board members and advisors, shares		76,000
Issuance of common stock pursuant to directors’ and advisors’ compensation plan	0	$ 1	(1)			0
Stock-based compensation expense related to equity-based awards including amounts capitalized	11,327		11,327			11,327
Stock options exercised, shares		154,000
Stock options exercised, net of options forfeited in net share settlements	(1,616)	$ 2	(1,618)			(1,616)
Restricted stock forfeited, shares					100,000
Restricted stock forfeited	(2,601)				$ (2,601)	(2,601)
Contributions related to formation of Joint Venture (see Note 6)	14,700		14,700			14,700	0
Contributions from non-controlling interest owners of less-than-wholly-owned subsidiaries	53,900						53,900
Distributions to non-controlling interest owners of less-than-wholly-owned subsidiaries	(10,535)						(10,535)
Current period net income	$ 130,561			119,700		119,700	10,861
Ending Balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2018	116,357,739	116,461,000			103,000
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2018	$ 1,679,748	$ 1,165	1,916,821	$ (390,784)	$ (2,670)	1,524,532	$ 155,216
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Stock Issued, Issuance Costs	$ 146		$ 146			$ 146