Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues									$ 6,804,197,000	$ 6,152,015,000	$ 6,843,051,000
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	(400,000)	(2,900,000)	(600,000)	(2,400,000)	(1,600,000)	(2,600,000)	1,400,000	2,900,000	(6,301,000)	39,000	(288,718,000)
Investment income (loss)									11,831,000	96,577,000	63,137,000
Total revenues and other income									6,809,727,000	6,248,631,000	6,617,470,000
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs									4,505,064,000	3,981,828,000	4,367,106,000
General and administrative expenses									549,734,000	525,330,000	527,953,000
Depreciation and amortization									1,145,100,000	1,086,677,000	1,039,923,000
Interest expense									177,948,000	223,418,000	251,904,000
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net									9,073,000	37,977,000	(136,636,000)
Impairments and other charges									1,027,423,000	287,241,000	290,260,000
Total costs and other deductions									7,414,342,000	6,142,471,000	6,340,510,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(604,615,000)	106,160,000	276,960,000
Income tax expense (benefit)									62,666,000	(55,181,000)	40,986,000
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend									1,984,000	3,000,000	3,000,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(886,401,000)	102,430,000	65,729,000	48,977,000	128,516,000	(90,510,000)	28,128,000	92,207,000	(669,265,000)	158,341,000	232,974,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(4,467,000)	4,005,000	(1,032,000)	1,515,000	23,113,000	(14,430,000)	(26,873,000)	7,011,000	21,000	(11,179,000)	(67,526,000)
Net income (loss)									(669,244,000)	147,162,000	165,448,000
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(202,000)	(387,000)	(253,000)	(573,000)	(1,026,000)	(441,000)	(5,616,000)	(97,000)	(1,415,000)	(7,180,000)	(621,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(891,070,000)	106,048,000	64,444,000	49,919,000	150,603,000	(105,381,000)	(4,361,000)	99,121,000	(670,659,000)	139,982,000	164,827,000
Parent Company
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									(653,124,000)	158,445,000	173,199,000
Investment income (loss)										1,000
Total revenues and other income									(653,124,000)	158,446,000	173,199,000
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses									9,531,000	11,111,000	7,141,000
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net									7,668,000	7,353,000	1,231,000
Intercompany interest expense									336,000
Total costs and other deductions									17,535,000	18,464,000	8,372,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(670,659,000)	139,982,000	164,827,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									(670,659,000)	139,982,000	164,827,000
Net income (loss)									(670,659,000)	139,982,000	164,827,000
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest										(7,180,000)	(621,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(670,659,000)	139,982,000	164,827,000
Nabors Delaware (Issuer/Guarantor)
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									(120,996,000)	191,821,000	(99,048,000)
Investment income (loss)									1,869,000	75,000	43,000
Intercompany interest income									2,415,000	92,000	69,145,000
Total revenues and other income									(116,712,000)	191,988,000	(29,860,000)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses									8,001,000	796,000	458,000
Depreciation and amortization									3,608,000	3,610,000	3,610,000
Interest expense									198,246,000	234,512,000	268,904,000
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net									(223,000)	211,976,000	(2,451,000)
Total costs and other deductions									209,632,000	450,894,000	270,521,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(326,344,000)	(258,906,000)	(300,381,000)
Income tax expense (benefit)									(75,979,000)	(166,769,000)	(74,493,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									(250,365,000)	(92,137,000)	(225,888,000)
Net income (loss)									(250,365,000)	(92,137,000)	(225,888,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(250,365,000)	(92,137,000)	(225,888,000)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues									6,804,197,000	6,152,015,000	6,843,051,000
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates									(6,301,000)	39,000	(288,718,000)
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									(250,365,000)	(92,137,000)	(206,413,000)
Investment income (loss)									16,265,000	101,047,000	63,094,000
Intercompany interest income									336,000
Total revenues and other income									6,564,132,000	6,160,964,000	6,411,014,000
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs									4,505,064,000	3,981,828,000	4,367,106,000
General and administrative expenses									532,789,000	514,000,000	521,962,000
Depreciation and amortization									1,141,492,000	1,083,067,000	1,036,313,000
Interest expense									(20,298,000)	(11,094,000)	(17,000,000)
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net									1,041,000	(181,929,000)	(137,024,000)
Impairments and other charges									1,027,423,000	287,241,000	290,260,000
Intercompany interest expense									2,415,000	92,000	69,145,000
Total costs and other deductions									7,189,926,000	5,673,205,000	6,130,762,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(625,794,000)	487,759,000	280,252,000
Income tax expense (benefit)									138,645,000	111,588,000	115,479,000
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend									1,984,000	3,000,000	3,000,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									(766,423,000)	373,171,000	161,773,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									21,000	(11,179,000)	(67,526,000)
Net income (loss)									(766,402,000)	361,992,000	94,247,000
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest									(1,415,000)	(7,180,000)	(621,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(767,817,000)	354,812,000	93,626,000
Consolidation, Eliminations
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									1,024,485,000	(258,129,000)	132,262,000
Investment income (loss)									(6,303,000)	(4,546,000)
Intercompany interest income									(2,751,000)	(92,000)	(69,145,000)
Total revenues and other income									1,015,431,000	(262,767,000)	63,117,000
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses									(587,000)	(577,000)	(1,608,000)
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net									587,000	577,000	1,608,000
Intercompany interest expense									(2,751,000)	(92,000)	(69,145,000)
Total costs and other deductions									(2,751,000)	(92,000)	(69,145,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									1,018,182,000	(262,675,000)	132,262,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									1,018,182,000	(262,675,000)	132,262,000
Net income (loss)									1,018,182,000	(262,675,000)	132,262,000
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest										7,180,000	621,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									$ 1,018,182,000	$ (262,675,000)	$ 132,262,000