Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Oct. 10, 2016
Dec. 31, 2016
Sep. 30, 2016
Jun. 30, 2016
Mar. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Sep. 30, 2015
Jun. 30, 2015
Mar. 31, 2015
Oct. 10, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Successor                        
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]                        
Revenues   $ 29,717                    
Operating expenses   36,800                    
Gain (loss) on sale of oil and natural gas properties   24                    
Total operating loss   (7,059)                    
Other income (expense)   (1,926)                    
Income tax expense (benefit)   0                    
Net (loss) income attributable to Centennial Resource Development, Inc.   $ (8,081)                    
Loss per share, basic (in dollars per share)   $ (0.05)                    
Income (loss) per share, diluted (in dollars per share)   $ (0.05)                    
Predecessor                        
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]                        
Revenues $ 3,327   $ 27,321 $ 23,347 $ 15,121 $ 21,720 $ 21,893 $ 22,431 $ 24,416 $ 69,116 $ 90,460 $ 131,825
Operating expenses 183,465   32,228 30,251 29,855 42,024 30,442 37,184 36,656 275,799 146,306 150,166
Gain (loss) on sale of oil and natural gas properties 0   15 0 (4) (249) 9 4 2,675 11 2,439 (2,096)
Total operating loss (180,138)   (4,892) (6,904) (14,738) (20,553) (8,540) (14,749) (9,565) (206,672) (53,407) (20,437)
Other income (expense) (2,858)   (242) (9,635) 277 6,938 11,866 (7,922) 3,628 (12,458) 14,510 39,749
Income tax expense (benefit) 0   0 406 0 572 0 0 0 (406) (572) 1,524
Net (loss) income attributable to Centennial Resource Development, Inc. $ (182,996)   $ (5,134) $ (16,133) $ (14,461) $ (13,043) $ 3,326 $ (22,671) $ (5,937) $ (218,724) $ (38,325) $ 17,790