Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations (Details 3) (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 from 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										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 before income taxes							(156,144)	235,067	78,923	106,160	276,960	515,253
Income tax expense:
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 per share: (3)
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
Peak
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues							1,697,904	1,844,688	3,542,592		6,843,051	6,013,480
Earnings from affiliates							(134,317)	(68,669)	(202,986)		(301,320)	56,647
Investment income							5,368	20,252	25,620		63,137	19,939
Total revenues and other income							1,568,955	1,796,271	3,365,226		6,604,868	6,090,066
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs							1,092,375	1,154,113	2,246,488		4,368,702	3,736,910
General and administrative expenses							132,385	135,468	267,853		527,953	487,808
Depreciation and amortization							257,257	243,547	500,804		1,039,923	918,122
Interest expense							63,627	62,665	126,292		251,904	256,632
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net							13,406	(1,845)	11,561		(136,636)	4,474
Impairments and other charges							147,503		147,503		290,260	198,072
Total costs and other deductions							1,706,553	1,593,948	3,300,501		6,342,106	5,602,018
Income before income taxes							(137,598)	202,323	64,725		262,762	488,048
Income tax expense:
Current							34,698	26,006	60,704		142,994	109,702
Deferred							(72,373)	38,767	(33,606)		(115,413)	33,021
Total income tax expense (benefit)							(37,675)	64,773	27,098		(27,581)	142,723
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend							750	750	1,500		3,000	3,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax							(100,673)	136,800	36,127		232,181	342,325
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax							26,710	(2,977)	23,733		(67,526)	(97,601)
Net income (loss)							(73,963)	133,823	59,860		164,655	244,724
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest							1,174	267	1,441		(621)	(1,045)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors							(72,789)	134,090	61,301		164,034	243,679
Earnings per share: (3)
Basic from continuing operations (in dollars per share)							$ (0.34)	$ 0.48	$ 0.13		$ 0.80	$ 1.19
Basic from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)							$ 0.09	$ (0.02)	$ 0.08		$ (0.23)	$ (0.34)
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
Diluted from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)							$ 0.09	$ (0.01)	$ 0.08		$ (0.23)	$ (0.34)
Total Diluted (in dollars per share)							$ (0.25)	$ 0.46	$ 0.21		$ 0.56	$ 0.83
As Previously Filed
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues											6,989,573
Earnings from affiliates							(134,317)	(68,669)	(202,986)		(301,320)	56,647
Investment income											63,137
Total revenues and other income							1,568,955	1,796,271	3,365,226		6,604,868	6,090,066
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs							1,092,375	1,154,113	2,246,488		4,368,702	3,736,910
Total costs and other deductions							1,706,553	1,593,948	3,300,501		6,342,106	5,602,018
Income before income taxes							(137,598)	202,323	64,725		262,762	488,048
Income tax expense:
Deferred							(72,373)	38,767	(33,606)		(115,413)	33,021
Total income tax expense (benefit)							(37,675)	64,773	27,098		27,581	142,723
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax							(100,673)	136,800	36,127		232,181	342,325
Net income (loss)							(73,963)	133,823	59,860		164,655	244,724
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors							(72,789)	134,090	61,301		164,034	243,679
Earnings per share: (3)
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
As Previously Filed | Peak
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues							1,737,114	1,890,426	3,627,540		6,989,573	6,060,351
Earnings from affiliates							(134,317)	(68,669)	(202,986)		(301,320)	56,647
Investment income							5,368	20,252	25,620		63,137	19,940
Total revenues and other income							1,608,165	1,842,009	3,450,174		6,751,390	6,136,938
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs							1,123,256	1,184,816	2,308,072		4,483,320	3,775,964
General and administrative expenses							133,612	136,346	269,958		532,568	489,892
Depreciation and amortization							261,016	247,621	508,637		1,055,517	924,094
Interest expense							63,459	62,654	126,113		251,552	256,633
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net							13,414	(1,840)	11,574		(136,510)	4,514
Impairments and other charges							147,503		147,503		290,260	198,072
Total costs and other deductions							1,742,260	1,629,597	3,371,857		6,476,707	5,649,169
Income before income taxes							(134,095)	212,412	78,317		274,683	487,769
Income tax expense:
Current							34,698	26,006	60,704		142,994	109,702
Deferred							(70,890)	43,038	(27,852)		(110,366)	32,903
Total income tax expense (benefit)							(36,192)	69,044	32,852		32,628	142,605
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend							750	750	1,500		3,000	3,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax							(98,653)	142,618	43,965		239,055	342,164
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax							24,690	(8,795)	15,895		(74,400)	(97,440)
Net income (loss)							(73,963)	133,823	59,860		164,655	244,724
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest							1,174	267	1,441		(621)	(1,045)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors							(72,789)	134,090	61,301		164,034	243,679
Earnings per share: (3)
Basic from continuing operations (in dollars per share)							$ (0.34)	$ 0.50	$ 0.16		$ 0.82	$ 1.19
Basic from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)							$ 0.09	$ (0.04)	$ 0.05		$ (0.25)	$ (0.34)
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)	$ 0.49	$ 0.16		$ 0.82	$ 1.17
Diluted from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)							$ 0.09	$ (0.03)	$ 0.05		$ (0.26)	$ (0.34)
Total Diluted (in dollars per share)							$ (0.25)	$ 0.46	$ 0.21		$ 0.56	$ 0.83
Discontinued operation
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues											(146,522)
Earnings from affiliates							(21,746)	34,348	12,602		12,602	28,801
Total revenues and other income							(21,746)	34,348	12,602		12,602	28,801
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs							(3,200)	1,604	(1,596)		(1,596)	1,596
Total costs and other deductions							(3,200)	1,604	(1,596)		(1,596)	1,596
Income before income taxes							(18,546)	32,744	14,198		14,198	27,205
Income tax expense:
Deferred							2,407	10,998	13,405		13,405	22,360
Total income tax expense (benefit)							2,407	10,998	13,405		13,405	22,360
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax							(20,953)	21,746	793		793	4,845
Net income (loss)							(20,953)	21,746	793		793	4,845
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors							(20,953)	21,746	793		793	4,845
Earnings per share: (3)
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
Discontinued operation | Peak
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues							(39,210)	(45,738)	(84,948)		(146,522)	(46,871)
Earnings from affiliates												0
Investment income												(1)
Total revenues and other income							(39,210)	(45,738)	(84,948)		(146,522)	(46,872)
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs							(30,881)	(30,703)	(61,584)		(114,618)	(39,054)
General and administrative expenses							(1,227)	(878)	(2,105)		(4,615)	(2,084)
Depreciation and amortization							(3,759)	(4,074)	(7,833)		(15,594)	(5,972)
Interest expense							168	11	179		352	(1)
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net							(8)	(5)	(13)		(126)	(40)
Total costs and other deductions							(35,707)	(35,649)	(71,356)		(134,601)	(47,151)
Income before income taxes							(3,503)	(10,089)	(13,592)		(11,921)	279
Income tax expense:
Deferred							(1,483)	(4,271)	(5,754)		(5,047)	118
Total income tax expense (benefit)							(1,483)	(4,271)	(5,754)		(5,047)	118
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax							(2,020)	(5,818)	(7,838)		(6,874)	161
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax							$ 2,020	$ 5,818	$ 7,838		$ 6,874	$ (161)
Earnings per share: (3)
Basic from continuing operations (in dollars per share)								$ (0.02)	$ (0.03)		$ (0.02)
Basic from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)								$ 0.02	$ 0.03		$ 0.02
Diluted from continuing operations (in dollars per share)								$ (0.02)	$ (0.03)		$ (0.02)
Diluted from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)								$ 0.02	$ 0.03		$ 0.02