CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, 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 (losses) 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):
Current										39,865	142,994	109,702
Deferred							(69,966)	49,765	(20,201)	(95,046)	(102,008)	55,381
Total 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
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
Basic from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.07	$ (0.05)	$ (0.09)	$ 0.03	$ (0.36)	$ 0.04	$ 0.09	$ (0.01)		$ (0.04)	$ (0.23)	$ (0.34)
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
Diluted from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.08	$ (0.05)	$ (0.09)	$ 0.02	$ (0.36)	$ 0.04	$ 0.09	$ (0.01)		$ (0.04)	$ (0.23)	$ (0.33)
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
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)										294,182	289,965	287,118
Diluted (in shares)										296,592	292,323	292,484