Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 4) (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
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
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
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors										(65,447)	21,073	(20,257)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities										23,007	98,138	5,356
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities										(88,158)	(13,405)	(3,036)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities										(65,151)	84,733	2,320
Pension plan										5,916	(324)	(5,391)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges										613	702	763
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax										(124,069)	106,184	(22,565)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)										(66)	(4,147)	(1,777)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax										(124,003)	110,331	(20,788)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors							(118,117)	177,035	58,918	15,979	275,158	227,736
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,026	441	5,616	97	1,074	988	(1,174)	(267)		7,180	621	1,045
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest										(932)	311	(185)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest										6,248	932	860
Comprehensive income (loss)							(119,507)	177,011	57,504	22,227	276,090	228,596
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors										139,982	164,827	248,524
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors										(65,447)	21,073	(20,257)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities										23,007	98,138	5,356
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities										(88,158)	(13,405)	(3,036)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities										(65,151)	84,733	2,320
Pension plan										5,916	(324)	(5,391)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges										613	702	763
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax										(124,069)	106,184	(22,565)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)										(66)	(4,147)	(1,777)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax										(124,003)	110,331	(20,788)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors										15,979	275,158	227,736
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest										7,180	621	1,045
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest										(932)	311	(185)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest										6,248	932	860
Comprehensive income (loss)										22,227	276,090	228,596
Nabors Delaware (Issuer/Guarantor)
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors										(92,137)	(225,888)	100,018
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors										87	(88)	(5,511)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities										98	133	226
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities										(7,114)	(11,488)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities										(7,016)	(11,355)	226
Pension plan										5,916	(324)	(5,391)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges										613	702	763
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax										(400)	(11,065)	(9,913)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)										(66)	(4,147)	(1,777)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax										(334)	(6,918)	(8,136)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors										(92,471)	(232,806)	91,882
Comprehensive income (loss)										(92,471)	(232,806)	91,882
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors										354,812	93,626	520,356
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors										(65,357)	20,987	(25,768)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities										23,105	98,271	5,582
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities										(95,272)	(24,893)	(3,036)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities										(72,167)	73,378	2,546
Pension plan										11,832	(648)	(10,782)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges										613	702	763
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax										(125,079)	94,419	(33,241)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)										(370)	(8,533)	(3,793)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax										(124,709)	102,952	(29,448)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors										230,103	196,578	490,908
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest										7,180	621	1,045
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest										(932)	311	(185)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest										6,248	932	860
Comprehensive income (loss)										236,351	197,510	491,768
Consolidating Adjustments
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors										(262,675)	132,262	(620,374)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors										65,270	(20,899)	31,279
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities										(23,203)	(98,404)	(5,808)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities										102,386	36,381	3,036
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities										79,183	(62,023)	(2,772)
Pension plan										(17,748)	972	16,173
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges										(1,226)	(1,404)	(1,526)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax										125,479	(83,354)	43,154
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)										436	12,680	5,570
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax										125,043	(96,034)	37,584
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors										(137,632)	36,228	(582,790)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest										(7,180)	(621)	(1,045)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest										932	(311)	185
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest										(6,248)	(932)	(860)
Comprehensive income (loss)										$ (143,880)	$ 35,296	$ (583,650)