Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	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
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues										$ 6,152,015	$ 6,843,051	$ 6,013,480
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	(1,600)	(2,600)	1,400	2,900	1,200	(99,500)	(156,063)	(34,321)	(190,384)	39	(288,718)	85,448
Investment income (loss)										96,577	63,137	19,939
Total revenues and other income							1,547,209	1,830,619	3,377,828	6,248,631	6,617,470	6,118,867
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs							1,089,175	1,155,717	2,244,892	3,981,828	4,367,106	3,738,506
General and administrative expenses										525,330	527,953	487,808
Depreciation and amortization										1,086,677	1,039,923	918,122
Interest expense										223,418	251,904	256,632
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net										37,977	(136,636)	4,474
Impairments and other charges										287,241	290,260	198,072
Total costs and other deductions							1,703,353	1,595,552	3,298,905	6,142,471	6,340,510	5,603,614
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes							(156,144)	235,067	78,923	106,160	276,960	515,253
Income tax expense (benefit)							(35,268)	75,771	40,503	(55,181)	40,986	165,083
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend										3,000	3,000	3,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	128,516	(90,510)	28,128	92,207	131,656	64,489	(121,626)	158,546	36,920	158,341	232,974	347,170
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	23,113	(14,430)	(26,873)	7,011	(103,414)	12,155	26,710	(2,977)		(11,179)	(67,526)	(97,601)
Net income (loss)							(94,916)	155,569	60,653	147,162	165,448	249,569
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,026)	(441)	(5,616)	(97)	(1,074)	(988)	1,174	267		(7,180)	(621)	(1,045)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	150,603	(105,381)	(4,361)	99,121	27,077	75,656	(93,742)	155,836	62,094	139,982	164,827	248,524
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates										158,445	173,199	261,090
Investment income (loss)										1		4
Total revenues and other income										158,446	173,199	261,094
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses										11,111	7,141	11,970
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net										7,353	1,231	600
Total costs and other deductions										18,464	8,372	12,570
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes										139,982	164,827	248,524
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax										139,982	164,827	248,524
Net income (loss)										139,982	164,827	248,524
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest										(7,180)	(621)	(1,045)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors										139,982	164,827	248,524
Nabors Delaware (Issuer/Guarantor)
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates										191,821	(99,048)	233,028
Investment income (loss)										75	43	68
Intercompany interest income										92	69,145	69,437
Total revenues and other income										191,988	(29,860)	302,533
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses										796	458	348
Depreciation and amortization										3,610	3,610	3,532
Interest expense										234,512	268,904	278,657
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net										211,976	(2,451)	(1,904)
Total costs and other deductions										450,894	270,521	280,633
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes										(258,906)	(300,381)	21,900
Income tax expense (benefit)										(166,769)	(74,493)	(78,118)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax										(92,137)	(225,888)	100,018
Net income (loss)										(92,137)	(225,888)	100,018
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors										(92,137)	(225,888)	100,018
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues										6,152,015	6,843,051	6,013,480
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates										39	(288,718)	85,448
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates										(92,137)	(206,413)	126,256
Investment income (loss)										101,047	63,094	19,867
Total revenues and other income										6,160,964	6,411,014	6,245,051
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs										3,981,828	4,367,106	3,738,506
General and administrative expenses										514,000	521,962	476,090
Depreciation and amortization										1,083,067	1,036,313	914,590
Interest expense										(11,094)	(17,000)	(22,025)
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net										(181,929)	(137,024)	5,178
Impairments and other charges										287,241	290,260	198,072
Intercompany interest expense										92	69,145	69,437
Total costs and other deductions										5,673,205	6,130,762	5,379,848
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes										487,759	280,252	865,203
Income tax expense (benefit)										111,588	115,479	243,201
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend										3,000	3,000	3,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax										373,171	161,773	619,002
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax										(11,179)	(67,526)	(97,601)
Net income (loss)										361,992	94,247	521,401
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest										(7,180)	(621)	(1,045)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors										354,812	93,626	520,356
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates										(258,129)	132,262	(620,374)
Investment income (loss)										(4,546)
Intercompany interest income										(92)	(69,145)	(69,437)
Total revenues and other income										(262,767)	63,117	(689,811)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses										(577)	(1,608)	(600)
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net										577	1,608	600
Intercompany interest expense										(92)	(69,145)	(69,437)
Total costs and other deductions										(92)	(69,145)	(69,437)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes										(262,675)	132,262	(620,374)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax										(262,675)	132,262	(620,374)
Net income (loss)										(262,675)	132,262	(620,374)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest										7,180	621	1,045
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors										$ (262,675)	$ 132,262	$ (620,374)