Supplemental Condensed Consolidated Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	$ (207,789)	$ 21,123	$ (218,088)	$ 37,138
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	(38)	0	(179)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(207,302)	21,085	(217,607)	36,959
Reclassification adjustment for write-down of securities, net of tax	487	0	481	0
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	(903)	2,224	811	4,586
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	(206,399)	18,861	(218,418)	32,373
Unrealized income (loss) on securities, tax	0	(13)	0	(60)
Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Write-down of Securities, Tax	(45)	0	(47)	0
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	202,177	(30,263)	197,318	(76,794)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		0		0
Comprehensive income (loss)	202,177	(30,263)	197,318	(76,794)
Reclassification adjustment for write-down of securities, net of tax	0		0
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	202,177	(30,263)	197,318	(76,794)
Unrealized income (loss) on securities, tax		0		0
Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Write-down of Securities, Tax	0		0
Parent [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	(206,886)	18,899	(218,899)	32,552
Comprehensive income (loss)	(206,886)	18,899	(218,899)	32,552
Reclassification adjustment for write-down of securities, net of tax	0		0
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	(206,886)	18,899	(218,899)	32,552
Unrealized income (loss) on securities, tax		0		0
Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Write-down of Securities, Tax	0		0
Combined Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	(201,110)	28,785	(197,596)	72,465
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(38)		(179)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(200,623)	28,747	(197,115)	72,286
Reclassification adjustment for write-down of securities, net of tax	487		481
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	(200,623)	28,747	(197,115)	72,286
Unrealized income (loss) on securities, tax		(13)		(60)
Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Write-down of Securities, Tax	(45)		(47)
Combined Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	(1,970)	3,702	1,089	8,915
Other comprehensive income (loss)		0		0
Comprehensive income (loss)	(1,970)	3,702	1,089	8,915
Reclassification adjustment for write-down of securities, net of tax	0		0
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	(903)	2,224	811	4,586
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Unit Corporation	(1,067)	1,478	278	4,329
Unrealized income (loss) on securities, tax		$ 0		$ 0
Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Write-down of Securities, Tax	$ 0		$ 0