Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Cover Page

v3.19.3
Cover Page - shares
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Nov. 01, 2019
Cover page.    
Document Type 10-Q  
Document Quarterly Report true  
Document Period End Date Sep. 30, 2019  
Document Transition Report false  
Entity File Number 1-7573  
Entity Registrant Name PARKER DRILLING CO /DE/  
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code DE  
Entity Tax Identification Number 73-0618660  
Entity Address, Address Line One 5 Greenway Plaza, Suite 100  
Entity Address, City or Town Houston  
Entity Address, State or Province TX  
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 77046  
City Area Code 281  
Local Phone Number 406-2000  
Title of each class Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share  
Trading Symbol PKD  
Security Exchange Name NYSE  
Entity Current Reporting Status Yes  
Entity Interactive Data Current Yes  
Entity Filer Category Accelerated Filer  
Entity small business true  
Entity emerging growth company false  
Entity Shell Company false  
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding   15,044,739
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2019  
Document Fiscal Period Focus Q3  
Entity Central Index Key 0000076321  
Current Fiscal Year End Date --12-31  
Amendment Flag false