Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations (1)	$ 1,364,212	$ 904,874	$ 2,761,765	$ 1,803,862
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations: (1)(9)	174,842	126,768	365,891	268,570
Interest expense	(63,739)	(65,293)	(137,663)	(132,062)
Investment income (loss)	(969)	2,314	11,318	(243)
Gains (losses) on sales and retirements of long-lived assets and other income (expense), net	(5,572)	(11,024)	(11,601)	(31,391)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	104,562	52,765	227,945	104,874
Income tax expense (benefit)	35,664	8,794	73,971	17,384
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	750		1,500
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	68,148	43,971	152,474	87,490
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	123,906	(909)	121,736	(5,330)
Net income (loss)	192,054	43,062	274,210	82,160
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	394	559	1,063	1,661
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	192,448	43,621	275,273	83,821
Assets:
Total assets	12,115,652		12,115,652		11,646,569
U.S. Lower 48 Land Drilling [Member]
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations (1)	404,984	303,417	783,552	574,914
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations: (1)(9)	99,231	58,169	179,326	118,455
Assets:
Total assets	2,965,214		2,965,214		2,762,362
U.S. Land Well-servicing [Member]
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations (1)	164,140	104,860	314,396	202,851
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations: (1)(9)	16,526	3,231	27,649	10,416
Assets:
Total assets	748,151		748,151		630,518
U.S. Offshore [Member]
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations (1)	40,284	38,978	70,738	77,176
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations: (1)(9)	(1,059)	8,104	(5,036)	15,477
Assets:
Total assets	371,651		371,651		379,292
Alaska [Member]
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations (1)	32,336	43,385	73,651	93,179
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations: (1)(9)	8,288	12,388	19,307	26,345
Assets:
Total assets	287,086		287,086		313,123
Canada [Member]
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations (1)	87,974	60,759	260,417	176,315
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations: (1)(9)	(2,512)	(9,497)	36,480	5,385
Assets:
Total assets	1,012,559		1,012,559		1,065,268
International [Member]
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations (1)	265,231	267,007	527,708	512,351
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations: (1)(9)	35,851	64,972	71,348	118,551
Assets:
Total assets	3,489,873		3,489,873		3,279,763
Subtotal Contract Drilling [Member]
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations (1)	994,949	818,406	2,030,462	1,636,786
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations: (1)(9)	156,325	137,367	329,074	294,629
Assets:
Total assets	8,874,534		8,874,534		8,430,326
Pressure Pumping [Member]
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations (1)	265,930		523,789
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations: (1)(9)	43,888		87,603
Assets:
Total assets	1,203,062		1,203,062		1,163,236
Oil and Gas [Member]
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations (1)	11,755	9,800	31,883	20,402
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations: (1)(9)	4,959	1,998	4,189	4,617
Assets:
Total assets	951,127		951,127		805,410
Other Operating Segments [Member]
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations (1)	162,491	107,749	283,874	203,262
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations: (1)(9)	13,641	8,317	19,779	15,207
Assets:
Total assets	551,266		551,266		539,373
Other reconciling items [Member]
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations (1)	(70,913)	(31,081)	(108,243)	(56,588)
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities continuing operations: (1)(9)	(43,971)	(20,914)	(74,754)	(45,883)
Assets:
Total assets	$ 535,663		$ 535,663		$ 708,224