Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 501,149,000	$ 389,915,000	$ 524,922,000	$ 398,575,000
Short-term investments	35,020,000	117,218,000
Assets held for sale	146,467,000	243,264,000
Accounts receivable, net	1,517,503,000	1,399,543,000
Inventory	230,067,000	209,793,000
Deferred income taxes	118,230,000	121,316,000
Other current assets	193,438,000	272,781,000
Total current assets	2,741,874,000	2,753,830,000
Long-term investments	2,806,000	3,236,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	8,599,125,000	8,597,813,000	8,712,088,000
Goodwill	173,928,000	512,964,000	472,326,000
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	58,251,000	64,260,000
Other long-term assets	303,958,000	227,708,000
Total assets	11,879,942,000	12,159,811,000
Current liabilities:
Current debt	6,190,000	10,185,000
Trade accounts payable	780,060,000	545,512,000
Accrued liabilities	728,004,000	697,093,000
Income taxes payable	53,221,000	58,634,000
Total current liabilities	1,567,475,000	1,311,424,000
Long-term debt	4,348,859,000	3,904,117,000
Other long-term liabilities	601,816,000	377,744,000
Deferred income taxes	443,003,000	516,161,000
Total liabilities	6,961,153,000	6,109,446,000
Subsidiary preferred stock (Note 16)		69,188,000
Shareholders' equity	4,908,619,000	5,969,086,000
Noncontrolling interest	10,170,000	12,091,000
Total equity	4,918,789,000	5,981,177,000	5,957,117,000	5,600,424,000
Total liabilities and equity	11,879,942,000	12,159,811,000
Parent Company
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	1,170,000	730,000	1,639,000	203,000
Accounts receivable, net		27,000
Other current assets	50,000	50,000
Total current assets	1,220,000	807,000
Intercompany receivables	136,360,000	160,136,000
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	4,771,413,000	5,808,606,000
Total assets	4,908,993,000	5,969,549,000
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	111,000	86,000
Accrued liabilities	263,000	378,000
Total current liabilities	374,000	464,000
Total liabilities	374,000	464,000
Shareholders' equity	4,908,619,000	5,969,085,000
Total equity	4,908,619,000	5,969,085,000
Total liabilities and equity	4,908,993,000	5,969,549,000
Nabors Delaware (Issuer/Guarantor)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	7,000	7,029,000	106,778,000	21,000
Other current assets	5,242,000	26,378,000
Short-term intercompany note	880,820,000
Total current assets	886,069,000	33,407,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	30,330,000	33,815,000
Intercompany receivables		3,891,000
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	5,014,743,000	6,097,337,000
Other long-term assets	30,298,000	34,487,000
Total assets	5,961,440,000	6,202,937,000
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	2,000	25,000
Accrued liabilities	64,390,000	65,947,000
Total current liabilities	64,392,000	65,972,000
Long-term debt	4,389,299,000	3,904,059,000
Other long-term liabilities	35,480,000	31,071,000
Deferred income taxes	(294,655,000)	(213,233,000)
Intercompany payable	1,422,882,000	1,747,566,000
Total liabilities	5,617,398,000	5,535,435,000
Shareholders' equity	344,042,000	667,502,000
Total equity	344,042,000	667,502,000
Total liabilities and equity	5,961,440,000	6,202,937,000
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	499,972,000	382,156,000	416,505,000	398,351,000
Short-term investments	35,020,000	117,218,000
Assets held for sale	146,467,000	243,264,000
Accounts receivable, net	1,517,503,000	1,399,516,000
Inventory	230,067,000	209,793,000
Deferred income taxes	118,230,000	121,316,000
Other current assets	188,146,000	246,353,000
Total current assets	2,735,405,000	2,719,616,000
Long-term investments	2,806,000	3,236,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	8,568,795,000	8,563,998,000
Goodwill	173,928,000	512,964,000
Intercompany receivables	1,286,522,000	1,583,539,000
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	1,506,939,000	1,854,111,000
Other long-term assets	273,660,000	193,221,000
Total assets	14,548,055,000	15,430,685,000
Current liabilities:
Current debt	6,190,000	10,185,000
Trade accounts payable	779,947,000	545,401,000
Accrued liabilities	663,351,000	630,768,000
Income taxes payable	53,221,000	58,634,000
Notes Payable, Related Parties, Current	880,820,000
Total current liabilities	2,383,529,000	1,244,988,000
Long-term debt	(40,440,000)	58,000
Other long-term liabilities	566,336,000	346,673,000
Deferred income taxes	737,658,000	729,394,000
Total liabilities	3,647,083,000	2,321,113,000
Subsidiary preferred stock (Note 16)		69,188,000
Shareholders' equity	10,890,802,000	13,028,293,000
Noncontrolling interest	10,170,000	12,091,000
Total equity	10,900,972,000	13,040,384,000
Total liabilities and equity	14,548,055,000	15,430,685,000
Consolidation, Eliminations
Current assets:
Short-term intercompany note	(880,820,000)
Total current assets	(880,820,000)
Intercompany receivables	(1,422,882,000)	(1,747,566,000)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(11,234,844,000)	(13,695,794,000)
Total assets	(13,538,546,000)	(15,443,360,000)
Current liabilities:
Notes Payable, Related Parties, Current	(880,820,000)
Total current liabilities	(880,820,000)
Intercompany payable	(1,422,882,000)	(1,747,566,000)
Total liabilities	(2,303,702,000)	(1,747,566,000)
Shareholders' equity	(11,234,844,000)	(13,695,794,000)
Total equity	(11,234,844,000)	(13,695,794,000)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (13,538,546,000)	$ (15,443,360,000)