<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xbrl
  xml:lang="en-US"
  xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance"
  xmlns:dei="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019-01-31"
  xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"
  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <link:schemaRef xlink:href="crc-20210614.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001609253</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2021-06-14</startDate>
            <endDate>2021-06-14</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <dei:EntityCentralIndexKey
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM180L2ZyYWc6NGRiYjJhNTA5MjcwNDY5NmEzMzc4ZjYzNzc2NGE0NjIvdGFibGU6MWUxYzAwNmY5MjU1NGQ2MDk4ZTY3ZmM5OTdhMzU5MWEvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxZTFjMDA2ZjkyNTU0ZDYwOThlNjdmYzk5N2EzNTkxYV8yLTEtMS0xLTA_656a6026-458c-4997-aa17-8cec4e27e03e">0001609253</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM180L2ZyYWc6NGRiYjJhNTA5MjcwNDY5NmEzMzc4ZjYzNzc2NGE0NjIvdGFibGU6MWUxYzAwNmY5MjU1NGQ2MDk4ZTY3ZmM5OTdhMzU5MWEvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxZTFjMDA2ZjkyNTU0ZDYwOThlNjdmYzk5N2EzNTkxYV8zLTEtMS0xLTA_5e17d6b5-d4b0-4b03-804d-9d8f3a920819">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:DocumentType
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM18xL2ZyYWc6MWM4NGFlYzI3ZmZlNGMxNjgxNzAyMWY5YzQxNTVlNjAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjoxYzg0YWVjMjdmZmU0YzE2ODE3MDIxZjljNDE1NWU2MF8xNjY3_70966423-4978-42a0-a134-77958752a10b">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM18xL2ZyYWc6MWM4NGFlYzI3ZmZlNGMxNjgxNzAyMWY5YzQxNTVlNjAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjoxYzg0YWVjMjdmZmU0YzE2ODE3MDIxZjljNDE1NWU2MF8yNzA_e6130ead-b558-4dd7-89fc-d817504ecb2a">2021-06-14</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM18xL2ZyYWc6MWM4NGFlYzI3ZmZlNGMxNjgxNzAyMWY5YzQxNTVlNjAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjoxYzg0YWVjMjdmZmU0YzE2ODE3MDIxZjljNDE1NWU2MF8xNjY4_b574ce4c-cdbf-46c8-9fff-6fefac49fb5f">California Resources Corp</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM18xL2ZyYWc6MWM4NGFlYzI3ZmZlNGMxNjgxNzAyMWY5YzQxNTVlNjAvdGFibGU6NDUyOTliMzhhZTE2NGVlZGI5ZmU3NTZjZDIxYWRiMzAvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0NTI5OWIzOGFlMTY0ZWVkYjlmZTc1NmNkMjFhZGIzMF8wLTAtMS0xLTA_767c0db1-df3d-416d-adf5-71524592f59e">DE</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM18xL2ZyYWc6MWM4NGFlYzI3ZmZlNGMxNjgxNzAyMWY5YzQxNTVlNjAvdGFibGU6NDUyOTliMzhhZTE2NGVlZGI5ZmU3NTZjZDIxYWRiMzAvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0NTI5OWIzOGFlMTY0ZWVkYjlmZTc1NmNkMjFhZGIzMF8wLTEtMS0xLTA_2256541f-4fd4-4adf-89c2-5a5682dc601b">001-36478</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM18xL2ZyYWc6MWM4NGFlYzI3ZmZlNGMxNjgxNzAyMWY5YzQxNTVlNjAvdGFibGU6NDUyOTliMzhhZTE2NGVlZGI5ZmU3NTZjZDIxYWRiMzAvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0NTI5OWIzOGFlMTY0ZWVkYjlmZTc1NmNkMjFhZGIzMF8wLTMtMS0xLTA_d7070763-91d7-40bc-874c-4ff0ff415120">46-5670947</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM18xL2ZyYWc6MWM4NGFlYzI3ZmZlNGMxNjgxNzAyMWY5YzQxNTVlNjAvdGFibGU6NDUyOTliMzhhZTE2NGVlZGI5ZmU3NTZjZDIxYWRiMzAvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0NTI5OWIzOGFlMTY0ZWVkYjlmZTc1NmNkMjFhZGIzMF8zLTAtMS0xLTA_59c78f18-d5e3-47f6-8a90-7900fd4813d1">27200 Tourney Road</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM18xL2ZyYWc6MWM4NGFlYzI3ZmZlNGMxNjgxNzAyMWY5YzQxNTVlNjAvdGFibGU6NDUyOTliMzhhZTE2NGVlZGI5ZmU3NTZjZDIxYWRiMzAvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0NTI5OWIzOGFlMTY0ZWVkYjlmZTc1NmNkMjFhZGIzMF80LTAtMS0xLTA_ef4af738-bdf8-449b-811f-39220893631f">Suite 200</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM18xL2ZyYWc6MWM4NGFlYzI3ZmZlNGMxNjgxNzAyMWY5YzQxNTVlNjAvdGFibGU6NDUyOTliMzhhZTE2NGVlZGI5ZmU3NTZjZDIxYWRiMzAvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0NTI5OWIzOGFlMTY0ZWVkYjlmZTc1NmNkMjFhZGIzMF81LTAtMS0xLTA_f6d8ccc2-85f2-4702-ae4d-9cbda041aab3">Santa Clarita</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM18xL2ZyYWc6MWM4NGFlYzI3ZmZlNGMxNjgxNzAyMWY5YzQxNTVlNjAvdGFibGU6NDUyOTliMzhhZTE2NGVlZGI5ZmU3NTZjZDIxYWRiMzAvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0NTI5OWIzOGFlMTY0ZWVkYjlmZTc1NmNkMjFhZGIzMF82LTAtMS0xLTA_e59e6ce0-e55f-424f-a3a2-69e4bf9c86d0">CA</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM18xL2ZyYWc6MWM4NGFlYzI3ZmZlNGMxNjgxNzAyMWY5YzQxNTVlNjAvdGFibGU6NDUyOTliMzhhZTE2NGVlZGI5ZmU3NTZjZDIxYWRiMzAvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0NTI5OWIzOGFlMTY0ZWVkYjlmZTc1NmNkMjFhZGIzMF82LTItMS0xLTA_770bba90-5c58-461a-bfc8-6dcfb4678f8d">91355</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM18xL2ZyYWc6MWM4NGFlYzI3ZmZlNGMxNjgxNzAyMWY5YzQxNTVlNjAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjoxYzg0YWVjMjdmZmU0YzE2ODE3MDIxZjljNDE1NWU2MF8xNjcz_4f8052e9-4aab-4025-94d6-bf2cc85f5cf6">888</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM18xL2ZyYWc6MWM4NGFlYzI3ZmZlNGMxNjgxNzAyMWY5YzQxNTVlNjAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjoxYzg0YWVjMjdmZmU0YzE2ODE3MDIxZjljNDE1NWU2MF8xNjY5_4fd73545-4f40-4d92-8e7b-2653e50ccb86">848-4754</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM18xL2ZyYWc6MWM4NGFlYzI3ZmZlNGMxNjgxNzAyMWY5YzQxNTVlNjAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjoxYzg0YWVjMjdmZmU0YzE2ODE3MDIxZjljNDE1NWU2MF8xNjcw_729ba05e-066a-4acb-8160-6cbe87723e83">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM18xL2ZyYWc6MWM4NGFlYzI3ZmZlNGMxNjgxNzAyMWY5YzQxNTVlNjAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjoxYzg0YWVjMjdmZmU0YzE2ODE3MDIxZjljNDE1NWU2MF8xNjcx_8fe5074b-6ebc-4e40-af34-96562fb31d7b">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM18xL2ZyYWc6MWM4NGFlYzI3ZmZlNGMxNjgxNzAyMWY5YzQxNTVlNjAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjoxYzg0YWVjMjdmZmU0YzE2ODE3MDIxZjljNDE1NWU2MF8xNjcy_8440258d-49e0-4b8a-8a32-885690dbfda1">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM18xL2ZyYWc6MWM4NGFlYzI3ZmZlNGMxNjgxNzAyMWY5YzQxNTVlNjAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjoxYzg0YWVjMjdmZmU0YzE2ODE3MDIxZjljNDE1NWU2MF8xNjc0_690c5895-e7aa-44e6-bb80-a16d8a18d24a">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM18xL2ZyYWc6MWM4NGFlYzI3ZmZlNGMxNjgxNzAyMWY5YzQxNTVlNjAvdGFibGU6MWFiZDU4YjczNzE5NDBkMGIyM2FiZjhhYjUyYmQ3NzQvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxYWJkNThiNzM3MTk0MGQwYjIzYWJmOGFiNTJiZDc3NF8xLTAtMS0xLTA_8468c8ff-6011-41f1-8a64-7c98298cc0dd">Common Stock</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM18xL2ZyYWc6MWM4NGFlYzI3ZmZlNGMxNjgxNzAyMWY5YzQxNTVlNjAvdGFibGU6MWFiZDU4YjczNzE5NDBkMGIyM2FiZjhhYjUyYmQ3NzQvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxYWJkNThiNzM3MTk0MGQwYjIzYWJmOGFiNTJiZDc3NF8xLTEtMS0xLTA_2930bdb7-5546-4186-8a9c-cab2dd020371">CRC</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM18xL2ZyYWc6MWM4NGFlYzI3ZmZlNGMxNjgxNzAyMWY5YzQxNTVlNjAvdGFibGU6MWFiZDU4YjczNzE5NDBkMGIyM2FiZjhhYjUyYmQ3NzQvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxYWJkNThiNzM3MTk0MGQwYjIzYWJmOGFiNTJiZDc3NF8xLTItMS0xLTA_a7384a84-686e-4e1e-974d-e7d409db3e49">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
      contextRef="i1553dbb2c5c54d0380349e495a976408_D20210614-20210614"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmVhN2ZkZWEyMjg5OTQyZWU5NjZhY2I3NjYzZjQxMjMzL3NlYzplYTdmZGVhMjI4OTk0MmVlOTY2YWNiNzY2M2Y0MTIzM18xL2ZyYWc6MWM4NGFlYzI3ZmZlNGMxNjgxNzAyMWY5YzQxNTVlNjAvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjoxYzg0YWVjMjdmZmU0YzE2ODE3MDIxZjljNDE1NWU2MF8xNjc1_450caab4-91e8-4bf8-ac3f-e1271ed3d527">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
