Subsidiary Guarantors Consolidated Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 279,402	$ 207,178	$ 694,995	$ 609,725
Total expenses	193,300	139,325	524,564	394,517
Operating (loss) income	86,102	67,853	170,431	215,208
Interest expense	(18,175)	(10,340)	(54,172)	(26,835)
Other (expense) income	(245)	(32,202)	(777)	(32,501)
Earnings in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	67,243	25,115	114,675	155,676
Total income tax provision	13,490	0	25,335	0
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	(9,800)	(7,321)	(25,582)	(18,182)
Net income attributable to Matador Resources Company shareholders	43,953	17,794	63,758	137,494
Net loss on asset sales and inventory impairment	(439)	(196)	(807)	(196)
Eliminating Entries
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	(19,609)	(17,848)	(54,745)	(46,550)
Total expenses	(19,609)	(17,848)	(54,745)	(46,550)
Operating (loss) income	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Other (expense) income	0	0	0	0
Earnings in subsidiaries	(84,393)	(68,169)	(166,080)	(218,076)
Income before income taxes	(84,393)	(68,169)	(166,080)	(218,076)
Total income tax provision	0		0
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to Matador Resources Company shareholders	(84,393)	(68,169)	(166,080)	(218,076)
Net loss on asset sales and inventory impairment	0	0	0	0
Matador | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Total expenses	1,034	1,184	2,970	3,596
Operating (loss) income	(1,034)	(1,184)	(2,970)	(3,596)
Interest expense	(15,716)	(10,340)	(47,391)	(26,835)
Other (expense) income	0	(31,232)	0	(31,226)
Earnings in subsidiaries	74,193	60,550	139,454	199,151
Income before income taxes	57,443	17,794	89,093	137,494
Total income tax provision	13,490		25,335
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to Matador Resources Company shareholders	43,953	17,794	63,758	137,494
Net loss on asset sales and inventory impairment	0	0	0	0
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	52,776	25,640	137,372	64,190
Total expenses	30,317	10,708	78,386	27,102
Operating (loss) income	22,459	14,932	58,986	37,088
Interest expense	(2,459)	0	(6,781)	0
Other (expense) income	0	8	3	19
Earnings in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income before income taxes	20,000	14,940	52,208	37,107
Total income tax provision	0		0
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	(9,800)	(7,321)	(25,582)	(18,182)
Net income attributable to Matador Resources Company shareholders	10,200	7,619	26,626	18,925
Net loss on asset sales and inventory impairment	0	0	0	0
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	246,235	199,386	612,368	592,085
Total expenses	181,558	145,281	497,953	410,369
Operating (loss) income	64,677	54,105	114,415	181,716
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Other (expense) income	(245)	(978)	(780)	(1,294)
Earnings in subsidiaries	10,200	7,619	26,626	18,925
Income before income taxes	74,193	60,550	139,454	199,151
Total income tax provision	0		0
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to Matador Resources Company shareholders	74,193	60,550	139,454	199,151
Net loss on asset sales and inventory impairment	$ (439)	$ (196)	$ (807)	$ (196)