Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	May. 02, 2016
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Laredo Petroleum, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001528129
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		213,406,700
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes