Stock-based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) shares
Employee Stock Option
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options outstanding, aggregate intrinsic value \| $	$ 1.7
Options outstanding, weighted-average remaining contractual term	4 years 11 months 27 days
Options exercisable, aggregate intrinsic value \| $	$ 1.7
Options exercisable, weighted-average remaining contractual term	4 years 1 month 28 days
Outstanding non-vested options \| shares	1.1
Restricted Stock Awards
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Outstanding non-vested restricted stock \| shares	1.3
Performance Units Awards
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Performance period	3 years
Award description	Generally, the recipients will receive a target number of shares if the Company’s total shareholder return is positive and, when compared to the peer group, is at the 50th percentile and two times the target if at the 75th percentile or higher.
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan \| Maximum
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Option term	10 years
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan \| Non Employee Director
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards vesting period	1 year
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan \| Employees
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards vesting period	3 years
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended \| Non Employee Director \| Employee Stock Option
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards vesting period	1 year
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended \| Non Employee Director \| Restricted Stock Awards
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards vesting period	1 year
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended \| Employees \| Employee Stock Option
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards vesting period	3 years
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended \| Employees \| Restricted Stock Awards
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Awards vesting period	3 years

Share Based Compensation Arrangement by Share Based Payment Award, Awards Incentive Period

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Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Number

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Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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General descriptive information regarding an arrangement under which employees and directors receive: (a) awards of equity shares, equity share options, or other equity instruments; or (b) the entity incurs liabilities to them: (1) in amounts based, at least in part, on the price of the entity's shares or other equity instruments; or (2) that require or may require settlement by issuance of the entity's shares. Such an arrangement is usually provided to employees and directors to compensate them, provide performance incentives to them, and to attract or retain their services. May also include pertinent information particular to a plan that is not elsewhere specified in the taxonomy.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Amount by which the current fair value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of options outstanding.

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Amount of difference between fair value of the underlying shares reserved for issuance and exercise price of vested portions of options outstanding and currently exercisable.

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Weighted average remaining contractual term for vested portions of options outstanding and currently exercisable or convertible, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Number of non-vested options outstanding.

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Weighted average remaining contractual term for option awards outstanding, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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