Document And Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Oct. 19, 2012
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Registrant Name	PIONEER ENERGY SERVICES CORP.
Entity Central Index Key	0000320575
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		62,029,235