Unaudited Quarterly Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Effect on consolidated balance sheet
Inventory	$ 209,793,000				$ 251,133,000			$ 262,587,000		$ 209,793,000	$ 251,133,000
Total current assets	2,753,830,000				3,132,857,000			3,126,024,000		2,753,830,000	3,132,857,000
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	64,260,000				61,690,000			324,849,000		64,260,000	61,690,000
Total assets	12,159,811,000				12,656,022,000			13,166,740,000		12,159,811,000	12,656,022,000
Deferred income taxes	516,161,000				599,335,000			852,650,000		516,161,000	599,335,000
Total liabilities	6,109,446,000				6,629,717,000			7,253,419,000		6,109,446,000	6,629,717,000
Retained earnings	4,213,212,000				4,120,398,000			4,111,407,000		4,213,212,000	4,120,398,000	3,955,571,000	3,702,243,000
Total shareholders' equity	5,969,086,000				5,944,929,000			5,831,876,000		5,969,086,000	5,944,929,000
Total equity	5,981,177,000				5,957,117,000			5,844,133,000		5,981,177,000	5,957,117,000	5,600,424,000	5,337,225,000
Total liabilities and equity	12,159,811,000				12,656,022,000			13,169,147,000		12,159,811,000	12,656,022,000
Effect on consolidated statements of income (loss)
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates	(1,600,000)	(2,600,000)	1,400,000	2,900,000	1,200,000	(99,500,000)	(156,063,000)	(34,321,000)	(190,384,000)	39,000	(288,718,000)	85,448,000
Total revenues and other income							1,547,209,000	1,830,619,000	3,377,828,000	6,248,631,000	6,617,470,000	6,118,867,000
Direct costs							1,089,175,000	1,155,717,000	2,244,892,000	3,981,828,000	4,367,106,000	3,738,506,000
Total costs and other deductions							1,703,353,000	1,595,552,000	3,298,905,000	6,142,471,000	6,340,510,000	5,603,614,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes							(156,144,000)	235,067,000	78,923,000	106,160,000	276,960,000	515,253,000
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)							(69,966,000)	49,765,000	(20,201,000)	(95,046,000)	(102,008,000)	55,381,000
Total income tax expense (benefit)							(35,268,000)	75,771,000	40,503,000	(55,181,000)	40,986,000	165,083,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	128,516,000	(90,510,000)	28,128,000	92,207,000	131,656,000	64,489,000	(121,626,000)	158,546,000	36,920,000	158,341,000	232,974,000	347,170,000
Net income (loss)							(94,916,000)	155,569,000	60,653,000	147,162,000	165,448,000	249,569,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	150,603,000	(105,381,000)	(4,361,000)	99,121,000	27,077,000	75,656,000	(93,742,000)	155,836,000	62,094,000	139,982,000	164,827,000	248,524,000
Earnings (losses) per share:
Basic from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.43	$ (0.30)	$ 0.08	$ 0.31	$ 0.45	$ 0.22	$ (0.41)	$ 0.55	$ 0.13	$ 0.51	$ 0.80	$ 1.21
Total Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	$ (0.35)	$ (0.01)	$ 0.34	$ 0.09	$ 0.26	$ (0.32)	$ 0.54	$ 0.21	$ 0.47	$ 0.57	$ 0.87
Diluted from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.42	$ (0.30)	$ 0.08	$ 0.31	$ 0.45	$ 0.22	$ (0.41)	$ 0.54	$ 0.13	$ 0.51	$ 0.79	$ 1.18
Total Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	$ (0.35)	$ (0.01)	$ 0.33	$ 0.09	$ 0.26	$ (0.32)	$ 0.53	$ 0.21	$ 0.47	$ 0.56	$ 0.85
Effect on consolidated statements of other comprehensive income (loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	150,603,000	(105,381,000)	(4,361,000)	99,121,000	27,077,000	75,656,000	(93,742,000)	155,836,000	62,094,000	139,982,000	164,827,000	248,524,000
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors							(118,117,000)	177,035,000	58,918,000	15,979,000	275,158,000	227,736,000
Comprehensive income (loss)							(119,507,000)	177,011,000	57,504,000	22,227,000	276,090,000	228,596,000
Effect on consolidated statements of cash flow
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	150,603,000	(105,381,000)	(4,361,000)	99,121,000	27,077,000	75,656,000	(93,742,000)	155,836,000	62,094,000	139,982,000	164,827,000	248,524,000
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)								49,800,000	(1,999,000)	(103,277,000)	(131,742,000)	(12,379,000)
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends								34,320,000	190,383,000	800,000	299,717,000	(161,189,000)
Inventory								11,083,000		39,412,000	14,447,000	(114,896,000)
Trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities								(120,791,000)	(96,019,000)	113,550,000	(224,795,000)	519,211,000
Net cash provided by operating activities								244,183,000	711,937,000	1,418,223,000	1,562,705,000	1,456,487,000
Effect on consolidated statements of changes in equity
Retained earnings	4,213,212,000				4,120,398,000			4,111,407,000		4,213,212,000	4,120,398,000	3,955,571,000	3,702,243,000
Total equity	5,981,177,000				5,957,117,000			5,844,133,000		5,981,177,000	5,957,117,000	5,600,424,000	5,337,225,000
As Reported
Effect on consolidated balance sheet
Inventory								265,787,000
Total current assets								3,129,224,000
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates								303,103,000
Total assets								13,148,194,000
Deferred income taxes								855,057,000
Total liabilities								7,255,826,000
Retained earnings								4,090,454,000				3,956,364,000	3,707,881,000
Total shareholders' equity								5,810,923,000
Total equity								5,823,180,000				5,601,217,000	5,342,863,000
Total liabilities and equity								13,148,194,000
Effect on consolidated statements of income (loss)
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates							(134,317,000)	(68,669,000)	(202,986,000)		(301,320,000)	56,647,000
Total revenues and other income							1,568,955,000	1,796,271,000	3,365,226,000		6,604,868,000	6,090,066,000
Direct costs							1,092,375,000	1,154,113,000	2,246,488,000		4,368,702,000	3,736,910,000
Total costs and other deductions							1,706,553,000	1,593,948,000	3,300,501,000		6,342,106,000	5,602,018,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes							(137,598,000)	202,323,000	64,725,000		262,762,000	488,048,000
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)							(72,373,000)	38,767,000	(33,606,000)		(115,413,000)	33,021,000
Total income tax expense (benefit)							(37,675,000)	64,773,000	27,098,000		27,581,000	142,723,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax							(100,673,000)	136,800,000	36,127,000		232,181,000	342,325,000
Net income (loss)							(73,963,000)	133,823,000	59,860,000		164,655,000	244,724,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors							(72,789,000)	134,090,000	61,301,000		164,034,000	243,679,000
Earnings (losses) per share:
Basic from continuing operations (in dollars per share)							$ (0.34)	$ 0.48	$ 0.13		$ 0.80	$ 1.19
Total Basic (in dollars per share)							$ (0.25)	$ 0.46	$ 0.21		$ 0.57	$ 0.85
Diluted from continuing operations (in dollars per share)							$ (0.34)	$ 0.47	$ 0.13		$ 0.79	$ 1.17
Total Diluted (in dollars per share)							$ (0.25)	$ 0.46	$ 0.21		$ 0.56	$ 0.83
Effect on consolidated statements of other comprehensive income (loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors							(72,789,000)	134,090,000	61,301,000		164,034,000	243,679,000
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors							(97,164,000)	155,289,000	58,125,000		274,365,000	222,891,000
Comprehensive income (loss)							(98,554,000)	155,265,000	56,711,000		275,297,000	223,751,000
Effect on consolidated statements of cash flow
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors							(72,789,000)	134,090,000	61,301,000		164,034,000	243,679,000
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)								38,802,000	(15,404,000)		(145,147,000)	(34,739,000)
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends								68,668,000	202,985,000		312,319,000	(132,388,000)
Inventory								7,883,000
Trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities								(119,195,000)	(94,423,000)		(223,199,000)	517,615,000
Net cash provided by operating activities								244,183,000	711,937,000		1,562,705,000	1,456,487,000
Effect on consolidated statements of changes in equity
Retained earnings								4,090,454,000				3,956,364,000	3,707,881,000
Total equity								5,823,180,000				5,601,217,000	5,342,863,000
Adjustment
Effect on consolidated balance sheet
Inventory								(3,200,000)
Total current assets								(3,200,000)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates								21,746,000
Total assets								18,546,000
Deferred income taxes								(2,407,000)
Total liabilities								(2,407,000)
Retained earnings								20,953,000				(793,000)	(5,638,000)
Total shareholders' equity								20,953,000
Total equity								20,953,000				(793,000)	(5,638,000)
Total liabilities and equity								20,953,000
Effect on consolidated statements of income (loss)
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates							(21,746,000)	34,348,000	12,602,000		12,602,000	28,801,000
Total revenues and other income							(21,746,000)	34,348,000	12,602,000		12,602,000	28,801,000
Direct costs							(3,200,000)	1,604,000	(1,596,000)		(1,596,000)	1,596,000
Total costs and other deductions							(3,200,000)	1,604,000	(1,596,000)		(1,596,000)	1,596,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes							(18,546,000)	32,744,000	14,198,000		14,198,000	27,205,000
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)							2,407,000	10,998,000	13,405,000		13,405,000	22,360,000
Total income tax expense (benefit)							2,407,000	10,998,000	13,405,000		13,405,000	22,360,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax							(20,953,000)	21,746,000	793,000		793,000	4,845,000
Net income (loss)							(20,953,000)	21,746,000	793,000		793,000	4,845,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors							(20,953,000)	21,746,000	793,000		793,000	4,845,000
Earnings (losses) per share:
Basic from continuing operations (in dollars per share)							$ (0.07)	$ 0.08				$ 0.02
Total Basic (in dollars per share)							$ (0.07)	$ 0.08				$ 0.02
Diluted from continuing operations (in dollars per share)							$ (0.07)	$ 0.07				$ 0.02
Total Diluted (in dollars per share)							$ (0.07)	$ 0.07				$ 0.02
Effect on consolidated statements of other comprehensive income (loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors							(20,953,000)	21,746,000	793,000		793,000	4,845,000
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors							(20,953,000)	21,746,000	793,000		793,000	4,845,000
Comprehensive income (loss)							(20,953,000)	21,746,000	793,000		793,000	4,845,000
Effect on consolidated statements of cash flow
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors							(20,953,000)	21,746,000	793,000		793,000	4,845,000
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)								10,998,000	13,405,000		13,405,000	22,360,000
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends								(34,348,000)	(12,602,000)		(12,602,000)	(28,801,000)
Inventory								3,200,000
Trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities								(1,596,000)	(1,596,000)		(1,596,000)	1,596,000
Effect on consolidated statements of changes in equity
Retained earnings								20,953,000				(793,000)	(5,638,000)
Total equity								$ 20,953,000				$ (793,000)	$ (5,638,000)