Represents the funded leverage ratio required by financial covenants under the terms of the debt agreement.

No definition available.

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of covenants that limit or prohibit certain actions or activities without the lender's prior consent within a specified period of time or until certain specified targets are achieved for example, reduction of the debt or an increase in net worth to a specified amount).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Increase in bond value due to foreign currency translation during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of letters of credit outstanding as of balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt, before unamortized discount and debt issuance cost. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

It represents the maximum percentage of priority debt that can be allowed on the net worth of the Company.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	hp_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of bonds denominated in a foreign currency which rose in value against the dollar.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	hp_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of bonds issued per the debt agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hp_NumberOfBondsIssued
Namespace Prefix:	hp_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The noncurrent portion of the remaining balance of debt discount and issuance costs that were capitalized and are being amortized against income over the lives of the respective bond issues.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	hp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of unamortized debt discount (premium) and debt issuance costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28555-108399

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=hp_UnsecuredRevolvingCreditFacilityMatureOnJuly2021Member
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Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
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Data Type:	na
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
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Data Type:	na
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=hp_LetterOfCreditOneMember
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Debt (Details) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	4 Months Ended
Debt (Details) $ in Thousands	Mar. 19, 2015 USD ($)	Feb. 02, 2018 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) letter item	Feb. 02, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Debt
Unsecured long-term debt			$ 500,000		$ 500,000
Long-term debt			500,000		500,000
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs			(6,832)		(7,098)
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs, noncurrent			(6,832)		(7,098)
Unsecured senior notes issued March 19, 2015
Debt
Unsecured long-term debt			500,000		500,000
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs			(6,832)		$ (7,098)
Debt issued	$ 500,000		500,000
Long-term debt stated interest rate percentage	4.65%
Term of debt	10 years
Unsecured revolving credit facility mature on July 13, 2021
Debt
Borrowing capacity			$ 300,000
Commitment fee (as a percent)			0.15%
Financial covenants \| item			1
Maximum limit of priority debt on net worth			17.50%
Borrowing amount outstanding			$ 0
Available borrowing capacity			$ 260,700
Unsecured revolving credit facility mature on July 13, 2021 \| Minimum
Debt
Commitment fee (as a percent)			0.15%
Unsecured revolving credit facility mature on July 13, 2021 \| Maximum
Debt
Commitment fee (as a percent)			0.30%
Funded leverage ratio (as a percent)			50.00%
Unsecured revolving credit facility mature on July 13, 2021 \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Debt
Interest spread on borrowings (as a percent)			1.125%
Unsecured revolving credit facility mature on July 13, 2021 \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) \| Minimum
Debt
Interest spread on borrowings (as a percent)			1.125%
Unsecured revolving credit facility mature on July 13, 2021 \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) \| Maximum
Debt
Interest spread on borrowings (as a percent)			1.75%
Unsecured revolving credit facility mature on July 13, 2021 \| Letter of credit
Debt
Borrowing capacity			$ 75,000
Number of letters of credit outstanding \| letter			3
Letters of credit outstanding/issued			$ 39,300
Unsecured standalone line of credit facility
Debt
Maximum borrowing capacity			$ 12,000
Letters of credit outstanding/issued		$ 5,600		$ 5,600
Number of bonds issued \| item		3
Number of bonds denominated in a foreign currency which rose in value \| item		2
Increase in bond value				$ 200