Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 5) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	$ 244,183	$ 711,937	$ 1,418,223	$ 1,562,705	$ 1,456,487
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments				(949)	(11,746)
Sales and maturities of investments			164,510	31,944	39,063
Proceeds from sale of unconsolidated affiliates			12,640	159,529	142,984
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net			(116,971)		(55,459)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates			(5,967)	(1,325)	(112,262)
Capital expenditures			(1,178,205)	(1,518,628)	(2,042,617)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims			308,538	149,801	180,558
Other			(13)
Net cash used for investing activities			(815,468)	(1,179,628)	(1,859,479)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts			(4,421)	1,612	6,375
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt			698,753
Debt issuance costs			(4,500)	(3,433)	(7,141)
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities				710,000	1,560,000
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares			5,383	(3,625)	11,605
Reduction in long-term debt			(994,181)	(276,258)	(1,404,281)
Dividends to shareholders			(47,168)
Proceeds (reductions) in commercial paper, net			329,844
Reduction in revolving credit facilities			(720,000)	(680,000)	(700,000)
Repurchase of equity component of convertible debt					(12)
Purchase of restricted stock				(2,160)	(2,626)
Tax benefit related to share-based awards				(263)	1,747
Other			6,704	(2,423)	(891)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities			(729,586)	(254,127)	163,245
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(8,176)	(2,603)	(3,380)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(135,007)	126,347	(243,127)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	398,575	398,575	524,922	398,575	641,702
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period			389,915	524,922	398,575
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities			16,746	7,253	6,612
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net				(35)
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates			(100)		(26,235)
Net cash used for investing activities			(100)	(35)	(26,235)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares			37,455	(3,622)	11,605
Dividends to shareholders			(51,713)
Other			(3,296)	(2,160)	(2,626)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities			(17,554)	(5,782)	8,979
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(908)	1,436	(10,644)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	203	203	1,639	203	10,847
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period			730	1,639	203
Nabors Delaware (Issuer/Guarantor)
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities			(157,952)	39,708	(109,125)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates			(772,000)		(65,000)
Changes in intercompany balances			748,537	274,482	77,947
Net cash used for investing activities			(23,463)	274,482	12,947
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt			698,434		697,578
Debt issuance costs			(4,500)	(3,433)	(7,141)
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities				710,000	1,510,000
Reduction in long-term debt			(994,112)	(224,997)	(1,404,246)
Dividends to shareholders				9,003
Proceeds (reductions) in commercial paper, net			329,844
Reduction in revolving credit facilities			(720,000)	(680,000)	(700,000)
Proceeds from parent contributions			772,000
Other					(12)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities			81,666	(207,433)	96,179
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(99,749)	106,757	1
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	21	21	106,778	21	20
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period			7,029	106,778	21
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities			1,531,902	1,546,250	1,559,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments				(949)	(11,746)
Sales and maturities of investments			164,510	31,944	39,063
Proceeds from sale of unconsolidated affiliates			12,640	159,529	142,984
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net			(116,971)		(55,459)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates			(5,967)	(1,325)	(112,262)
Capital expenditures			(1,178,205)	(1,518,628)	(2,042,617)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims			308,538	149,801	180,558
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates			(1,544,000)
Other			(13)
Changes in intercompany balances			(748,537)	(274,482)	(77,947)
Net cash used for investing activities			(3,108,005)	(1,454,110)	(1,937,426)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts			(4,421)	1,612	6,375
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt			319
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities					50,000
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares				(3)
Reduction in long-term debt			(69)	(51,261)	(35)
Dividends to shareholders				21,503
Proceeds from parent contributions			1,544,100	35	91,235
Other			10,000	(263)	1,747
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities			1,549,929	(71,383)	149,322
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(8,176)	(2,603)	(3,380)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(34,350)	18,154	(232,484)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	398,351	398,351	416,505	398,351	630,835
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period			382,156	416,505	398,351
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities			27,527	(30,506)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net				35
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates			2,316,100		91,235
Net cash used for investing activities			2,316,100	35	91,235
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares			(32,072)
Dividends to shareholders			(4,545)	(30,506)
Proceeds from parent contributions			(2,316,100)	(35)	(91,235)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities			$ (2,343,627)	$ 30,471	$ (91,235)