Commitments and Contingencies (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Self-Insurance disclosures
Employer's liability claims subject to per-occurrence deductible	$ 3.0
Workers automobile claims	2.5nbr_AutomobileClaimsDeductible
General liability claims subject to per-occurrence deductible	5.0
Deductions in land rigs and for offshore rigs	5.0
Self-insurance accruals	198.1us-gaap_SelfInsuranceReserve	181.7us-gaap_SelfInsuranceReserve
Self-insurance recoveries/receivables	39.9	44.7
South America Africa the Middle East and Asia Excluding Colombia [Member]
Self-Insurance disclosures
Political risk insurance losses deductible	0.25
COLOMBIA
Self-Insurance disclosures
Political risk insurance deductible for foreign operation	0.5
Mexico \| Minimum
Income tax
Aggregate remaining amounts assessed or expected to assessed range	30
Mexico \| Maximum
Income tax
Aggregate remaining amounts assessed or expected to assessed range	$ 35

Represents the amount of per-occurrence deductible which the entity has on its automobile insurance claims.

No definition available.

Name:	nbr_AutomobileClaimsDeductible
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amount of deductions in land rigs and for offshore rigs.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_DeductionsInLandRigsAndForOffshoreRigs
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amount of employer's liability claims subject to per-occurrence deductible.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_EmployersLiabilityClaimsSubjectToPerOccurrenceDeductible
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amount of general liability claims subject to per-occurrence deductible.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_GeneralLiabilityClaimsSubjectToPerOccurrenceDeductible
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amount of political risk insurance losses deductible.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_PoliticalRiskInsuranceLossesDeductible
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amount of political risk insurance losses deductible for foreign operation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_PoliticalRiskInsuranceLossesDeductibleForForeignOperation
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amount of self-insurance recoveries/ receivables as of balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_SelfInsuranceRecoveriesOrReceivables
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	nbr_SelfInsuranceReserveDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Estimated amount of loss resulting from an adverse tax position.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph (d)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationEstimateOfPossibleLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount (including both current and noncurrent portions) of accrued known and estimated losses incurred as of the balance sheet date for which no insurance coverage exists, and for which a claim has been made or is probable of being asserted, typically arising from workmen's compensation-type of incidents and personal injury to nonemployees from accidents on the entity's property.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.24)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SelfInsuranceReserve
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_CO
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=nbr_SouthAmericaAfricaTheMiddleEastAndAsiaExcludingColombiaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: