Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	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
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (891,070)	$ 106,048	$ 64,444	$ 49,919	$ 150,603	$ (105,381)	$ (4,361)	$ 99,121	$ (670,659)	$ 139,982	$ 164,827
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									(79,059)	(65,447)	21,073
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities									(59,932)	23,007	98,138
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses included in net income (loss)									2,337	(88,158)	(13,405)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities									(57,595)	(65,151)	84,733
Pension plan									(5,050)	5,916	(324)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges									612	613	702
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									(141,092)	(124,069)	106,184
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									(2,474)	(66)	(4,147)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)									(138,618)	(124,003)	110,331
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(809,277)	15,979	275,158
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	202	387	253	573	1,026	441	5,616	97	1,415	7,180	621
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest									1,017	932	(311)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									(398)	(6,248)	(932)
Comprehensive income (loss)									(808,879)	22,227	276,090
Parent Company
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(670,659)	139,982	164,827
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									(79,059)	(65,447)	21,073
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities									(59,932)	23,007	98,138
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses included in net income (loss)									2,337	(88,158)	(13,405)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities									(57,595)	(65,151)	84,733
Pension plan									(5,050)	5,916	(324)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges									612	613	702
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									(141,092)	(124,069)	106,184
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									(2,474)	(66)	(4,147)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)									(138,618)	(124,003)	110,331
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(809,277)	15,979	275,158
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest										7,180	621
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest										932	(311)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest										(6,248)	(932)
Comprehensive income (loss)									(809,277)	22,227	276,090
Nabors Delaware (Issuer/Guarantor)
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(250,365)	(92,137)	(225,888)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									1,583	87	(88)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities									156	98	133
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses included in net income (loss)									(2,395)	(7,114)	(11,488)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities									(2,239)	(7,016)	(11,355)
Pension plan									(5,050)	5,916	(324)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges									612	613	702
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									(5,094)	(400)	(11,065)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									(2,474)	(66)	(4,147)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)									(2,620)	(334)	(6,918)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(252,985)	(92,471)	(232,806)
Comprehensive income (loss)									(252,985)	(92,471)	(232,806)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(767,817)	354,812	93,626
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									(79,174)	(65,357)	20,987
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities									(59,776)	23,105	98,271
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses included in net income (loss)									(58)	(95,272)	(24,893)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities									(59,834)	(72,167)	73,378
Pension plan									(10,100)	11,832	(648)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges									612	613	702
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									(148,496)	(125,079)	94,419
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									(5,187)	(370)	(8,533)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)									(143,309)	(124,709)	102,952
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(911,126)	230,103	196,578
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									1,415	7,180	621
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest									1,017	932	(311)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									(398)	(6,248)	(932)
Comprehensive income (loss)									(910,728)	236,351	197,510
Consolidation, Eliminations
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									1,018,182	(262,675)	132,262
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									77,591	65,270	(20,899)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities									59,620	(23,203)	(98,404)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses included in net income (loss)									2,453	102,386	36,381
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities									62,073	79,183	(62,023)
Pension plan									15,150	(17,748)	972
Unrealized gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges									(1,224)	(1,226)	(1,404)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									153,590	125,479	(83,354)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									7,661	436	12,680
Net other comprehensive income (loss)									145,929	125,043	(96,034)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									1,164,111	(137,632)	36,228
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest										(7,180)	(621)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest										(932)	311
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest										6,248	932
Comprehensive income (loss)									$ 1,164,111	$ (143,880)	$ 35,296