Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	$ 1,666,892,000	$ 1,642,227,000	$ 5,091,446,000	$ 4,385,019,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:	225,529,000	269,299,000	777,128,000	654,360,000
Full-cost ceiling test writedown	(96,319,000)		(310,031,000)
Interest expense	(63,604,000)	(58,060,000)	(189,717,000)	(195,781,000)
Investment income (loss)	7,224,000	727,000	32,844,000	12,032,000
Losses (gains) on sales and retirements of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	(10,263,000)	11,607,000	(21,837,000)	1,100,000
Impairments and other charges		(98,072,000)	(147,503,000)	(98,072,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	62,567,000	125,501,000	140,884,000	373,639,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	(4,001,000)	37,561,000	28,851,000	118,760,000
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	750,000	750,000	2,250,000	2,250,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	65,818,000	87,190,000	109,783,000	252,629,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	10,826,000	(12,226,000)	26,721,000	96,545,000
Net income (loss)	76,644,000	74,964,000	136,504,000	349,174,000
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(988,000)	(708,000)	453,000	355,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	75,656,000	74,256,000	136,957,000	349,529,000
ASSETS
Total assets	12,924,561,000		12,924,561,000		12,912,140,000
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends			(302,512,000)	135,844,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	70,200,000		70,200,000		371,000,000
Segment information
Full-cost ceiling test writedown	(96,319,000)		(310,031,000)
Drilling and Rig Services
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	1,209,509,000	1,122,008,000	3,801,521,000	3,110,109,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:	184,602,000	181,149,000	637,819,000	504,864,000
ASSETS
Total assets	9,556,694,000		9,556,694,000		9,293,187,000
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends	(700,000)	(1,200,000)	(700,000)	3,000,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	70,200,000		70,200,000		76,900,000
U.S. Lower 48 Land Drilling
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	461,860,000	430,895,000	1,451,928,000	1,214,447,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:	114,884,000	104,877,000	372,997,000	284,203,000
ASSETS
Total assets	3,436,578,000		3,436,578,000		3,216,803,000
U.S. Offshore
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	66,675,000	46,069,000	207,768,000	116,807,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:	(3,650,000)	2,457,000	14,006,000	(2,579,000)
ASSETS
Total assets	484,100,000		484,100,000		402,506,000
Alaska
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	27,249,000	27,027,000	121,958,000	100,678,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:	3,973,000	3,021,000	40,288,000	22,328,000
ASSETS
Total assets	277,930,000		277,930,000		288,253,000
Canada
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	135,786,000	145,587,000	420,469,000	406,004,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:	22,889,000	21,604,000	68,458,000	58,084,000
ASSETS
Total assets	916,676,000		916,676,000		962,239,000
International
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	329,245,000	281,686,000	940,332,000	809,394,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:	30,299,000	29,015,000	67,838,000	100,363,000
ASSETS
Total assets	3,758,290,000		3,758,290,000		3,702,611,000
Other Rig Services
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	188,694,000	190,744,000	659,066,000	462,779,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:	16,207,000	20,175,000	74,232,000	42,465,000
ASSETS
Total assets	683,120,000		683,120,000		720,775,000
Completion and Production Services
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	603,275,000	533,079,000	1,812,680,000	1,371,264,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:	79,984,000	87,891,000	241,475,000	203,143,000
ASSETS
Total assets	2,183,013,000		2,183,013,000		2,315,347,000
U.S. Land Well-servicing
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	222,034,000	189,356,000	645,740,000	503,752,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:	32,766,000	22,839,000	83,253,000	50,488,000
ASSETS
Total assets	842,312,000		842,312,000		812,049,000
Pressure Pumping
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	381,241,000	343,723,000	1,166,940,000	867,512,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:	47,218,000	65,052,000	158,222,000	152,655,000
ASSETS
Total assets	1,340,701,000		1,340,701,000		1,503,298,000
Oil and Gas
ASSETS
Total assets	513,666,000		513,666,000		796,327,000
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends	98,800,000	(34,900,000)	301,800,000	(56,300,000)
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method					294,100,000
Segment information
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates (oil and gas)	(2,500,000)		8,200,000
Intersegment Elimination
ASSETS
Total assets	$ 671,188,000		$ 671,188,000		$ 507,279,000