Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity - Unaudited - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Total shareholders’ equity attributable to Matador Resources Company	Common Stock	Additional paid-in capital	Accumulated deficit	Treasury Stock	Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2019			116,644,000			1,000
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 1,969,452	$ 1,833,654	$ 1,166	$ 1,981,014	$ (148,500)	$ (26)	$ 135,798
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock pursuant to directors' and advisors' compensation plan (in shares)			3,000
Issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock compensation plan	0
Issuance of common stock pursuant to directors' and advisors' compensation plan (in shares)			2,000
Issuance of common stock pursuant to directors’ and advisors’ compensation plan	0
Stock-based compensation expense related to equity-based awards including amounts capitalized	5,066	5,066		5,066
Stock options exercised, net of options forfeited in net share settlements	(24)	(24)		(24)
Liability-based stock option awards settled in equity (in shares)			22,000
Liability-based stock option awards settled in equity	298	298	$ 1	297
Restricted stock forfeited (in shares)						(106,000)
Restricted stock forfeited	(1,267)	(1,267)				$ (1,267)
Contribution related to formation of property	11,613	11,613		11,613
Contributions from non-controlling interest owners of less-than-wholly-owned subsidiaries, net of tax	45,674	16,280		16,280			29,394
Distributions to non-controlling interest owners of less-than-wholly-owned subsidiaries	(11,515)						(11,515)
Current period net income	135,083	125,729			125,729		9,354
Ending Balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2020			116,671,000			107,000
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2020	$ 2,154,380	1,991,349	$ 1,167	2,014,246	(22,771)	$ (1,293)	163,031
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2020	116,844,768		116,847,000			2,000
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 1,513,025	1,286,530	$ 1,169	2,027,069	(741,705)	$ (3)	226,495
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Dividends declared ($0.025 per share)	(2,913)	(2,913)			(2,913)
Issuance of common stock pursuant to directors' and advisors' compensation plan (in shares)			3,000
Issuance of common stock pursuant to employee stock compensation plan	0
Issuance of common stock pursuant to directors' and advisors' compensation plan (in shares)			9,000
Issuance of common stock pursuant to directors’ and advisors’ compensation plan	0
Stock-based compensation expense related to equity-based awards including amounts capitalized	1,477	1,477		$ 1,477
Stock options exercised, net of options forfeited in net share settlements (in shares)			13,000
Stock options exercised, net of options forfeited in net share settlements	0
Restricted stock forfeited (in shares)				(219,000)		(90,000)
Restricted stock forfeited	(1,720)	(1,720)				$ (1,501)
Contribution related to formation of property	15,376	15,376		$ 15,376
Distributions to non-controlling interest owners of less-than-wholly-owned subsidiaries	(14,210)						(14,210)
Current period net income	$ 69,498	60,645			60,645		8,853
Ending Balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2021	116,779,751		116,872,000			92,000
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2021	$ 1,580,533	$ 1,359,395	$ 1,169	$ 2,043,703	$ (683,973)	$ (1,504)	$ 221,138