Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Jan. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Document And Company Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Denbury Resources Inc.
Trading Symbol	DNR
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2018
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Central Index Key	0000945764
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 2,178,055,595
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		460,442,251