Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity - Unaudited - 9 months ended Sep. 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		736,000
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		79,000
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	17,174		17,174			17,174
Stock options exercised, shares		178,000
Stock options exercised, net of options forfeited in net share settlements	(1,254)	$ 2	(1,256)			(1,254)
Restricted stock forfeited, shares					155,000
Restricted stock forfeited	(3,970)				$ (3,970)	(3,970)
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	73,500						73,500
Distributions to non-controlling interest owners of less-than-wholly-owned subsidiaries	(17,395)						(17,395)
Current period net income	$ 155,676			137,494		137,494	18,182
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2018	116,348,548	116,507,000			158,000
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018	$ 1,722,443	$ 1,165	1,923,030	$ (372,990)	$ (4,039)	1,547,166	$ 175,277
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Stock Issued, Issuance Costs	$ 146		$ 146			$ 146