Common Shares (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012 Contribution to Nabors Charitable Foundation Treasury Shares
Common shares
Vested options exercised by employees , shares	1,100,000	1,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of common shares	$ 17,000,000	$ 12,200,000
Repurchase surrendered unexercised vested options surrendered to satisfy exercise price and related tax withholding obligations	21,000,000
Common shares withheld by company	100,000	100,000
Common shares fair value	2,100,000	2,600,000
Accrued contingent liability, subsequently released			$ 100,000,000
Contributions
Number of treasury shares contributed				1,000,000