Subsidiary Guarantors Consolidated Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	100.00%
Intercompany receivable	$ 0	$ 0
Third-party current assets	225,432	257,170
Net property and equipment	2,921,974	1,881,456
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Third-party long-term assets	6,796	7,064
Total assets	3,154,202	2,145,690	$ 1,848,537
Intercompany payable	0	0
Third-party current liabilities	326,751	282,606
Senior unsecured notes payable	740,063	574,073
Other third-party long-term liabilities	364,945	31,465
Total equity attributable to Matador Resources Company	1,547,166	1,156,556
Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	175,277	100,990
Total liabilities and equity	3,154,202	2,145,690
Eliminating Entries
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany receivable	(965,676)	(588,021)
Third-party current assets	0	0
Net property and equipment	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	(1,529,743)	(1,258,372)
Third-party long-term assets	(2,934)	(3,003)
Total assets	(2,498,353)	(1,849,396)
Intercompany payable	(965,676)	(588,021)
Third-party current liabilities	(256)	(274)
Senior unsecured notes payable	0	0
Other third-party long-term liabilities	(2,678)	(2,729)
Total equity attributable to Matador Resources Company	(1,529,743)	(1,258,372)
Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	0	0
Total liabilities and equity	(2,498,353)	(1,849,396)
Matador | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany receivable	939,294	585,109
Third-party current assets	827	2,240
Net property and equipment	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	1,346,446	1,147,295
Third-party long-term assets	6,425	6,425
Total assets	2,292,992	1,741,069
Intercompany payable	0	0
Third-party current liabilities	5,763	8,847
Senior unsecured notes payable	740,063	574,073
Other third-party long-term liabilities	0	1,593
Total equity attributable to Matador Resources Company	1,547,166	1,156,556
Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	0	0
Total liabilities and equity	2,292,992	1,741,069
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany receivable	26,382	2,912
Third-party current assets	23,159	9,334
Net property and equipment	343,371	223,178
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Third-party long-term assets	0	0
Total assets	392,912	235,424
Intercompany payable	0	0
Third-party current liabilities	30,335	19,891
Senior unsecured notes payable	0	0
Other third-party long-term liabilities	4,003	3,466
Total equity attributable to Matador Resources Company	183,297	111,077
Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	175,277	100,990
Total liabilities and equity	392,912	235,424
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany receivable	0	0
Third-party current assets	201,446	245,596
Net property and equipment	2,578,603	1,658,278
Investment in subsidiaries	183,297	111,077
Third-party long-term assets	3,305	3,642
Total assets	2,966,651	2,018,593
Intercompany payable	965,676	588,021
Third-party current liabilities	290,909	254,142
Senior unsecured notes payable	0	0
Other third-party long-term liabilities	363,620	29,135
Total equity attributable to Matador Resources Company	1,346,446	1,147,295
Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	0	0
Total liabilities and equity	$ 2,966,651	$ 2,018,593