Earnings (Losses) Per Share (Details) (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
Net income (loss) (numerator):
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
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)
Less: net (income) loss allocated to unvested shareholders										(1,277)
Adjusted income (loss) from continuing operations - basic and diluted										149,884	232,353	346,125
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) 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
Shares (denominator):
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding - basic										294,182	289,965	287,118
Net effect of dilutive stock options, warrants and restricted stock awards based on the if-converted method (in shares)										2,410	2,358	5,366
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding - diluted										296,592	292,323	292,484