Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 item	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 item	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information
Number of major business lines	2								2
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	$ 1,596,807,000	$ 1,666,892,000	$ 1,602,797,000	$ 1,821,757,000	$ 1,731,979,000	$ 1,642,227,000	$ 1,352,950,000	$ 1,389,842,000	$ 6,688,253,000	$ 6,116,998,000	$ 4,167,750,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:									918,649,000	867,363,000	648,892,000
Joint venture earning (losses)	1,200,000	(99,500,000)	(134,300,000)	(68,700,000)	(2,700,000)	33,700,000	9,300,000	16,300,000	(301,320,000)	56,647,000	33,267,000
Interest expense									(251,552,000)	(256,633,000)	(272,712,000)
Investment income (loss)									63,137,000	19,940,000	7,263,000
Gains (losses) on sales and retirements of long-lived assets and other income (expense), net									136,510,000	(4,514,000)	(47,238,000)
Impairments and other charges									(290,260,000)	(198,072,000)	(61,292,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									274,683,000	487,769,000	293,570,000
Income tax expense (benefit)									32,628,000	142,605,000	36,950,000
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend									3,000,000	3,000,000	750,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	129,272,000	65,818,000	(98,653,000)	142,618,000	89,535,000	87,190,000	70,887,000	94,552,000	239,055,000	342,164,000	255,870,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(101,121,000)	10,826,000	24,690,000	(8,795,000)	(193,985,000)	(12,226,000)	121,167,000	(12,396,000)	(74,400,000)	(97,440,000)	(161,090,000)
Net income (loss)									164,655,000	244,724,000	94,780,000
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,074,000)	(988,000)	1,174,000	267,000	(1,400,000)	(708,000)	394,000	669,000	(621,000)	(1,045,000)	(85,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	27,077,000	75,656,000	(72,789,000)	134,090,000	(105,850,000)	74,256,000	192,448,000	82,825,000	164,034,000	243,679,000	94,695,000
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization:									1,055,517,000	924,094,000	760,962,000
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									1,433,586,000	2,247,735,000	1,878,063,000
ASSETS
Total assets	12,656,022,000				12,912,140,000				12,656,022,000	12,912,140,000	11,646,569,000
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends									(312,319,000)	132,388,000	13,630,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	61,700,000				371,000,000				61,700,000	371,000,000
Assets held for sale	383,857,000				401,500,000				383,857,000	401,500,000
Drilling and Rig Services
Segment Reporting Information
Number of operating segments									6
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations									4,954,017,000	4,352,662,000	3,507,823,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:									776,717,000	716,898,000	655,471,000
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization:									859,000,000	744,000,000	665,833,000
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									1,166,326,000	1,605,016,000	766,985,000
ASSETS
Total assets	9,309,321,000				9,293,187,000				9,309,321,000	9,293,187,000	8,339,181,000
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends										(3,100,000)	14,600,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	59,900,000				76,900,000				59,900,000	76,900,000	119,300,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using cost method											1,900,000
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									1,860,357,000	1,698,620,000	1,294,853,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:									467,716,000	414,317,000	274,215,000
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization:									334,555,000	288,373,000	241,258,000
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									649,078,000	650,342,000	294,239,000
ASSETS
Total assets	3,358,339,000				3,216,803,000				3,358,339,000	3,216,803,000	2,762,362,000
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									268,986,000	170,727,000	123,761,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:									(305,000)	843,000	9,245,000
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization:									44,328,000	37,242,000	37,059,000
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									105,245,000	63,817,000	23,625,000
ASSETS
Total assets	523,162,000				402,506,000				523,162,000	402,506,000	379,292,000
Alaska
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations									147,465,000	129,894,000	179,218,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:									42,483,000	27,671,000	51,896,000
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization:									27,857,000	34,989,000	37,195,000
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									4,232,000	5,582,000	891,000
ASSETS
Total assets	275,969,000				288,253,000				275,969,000	288,253,000	313,123,000
Canada
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations									572,616,000	574,754,000	389,229,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:									96,536,000	94,637,000	22,970,000
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization:									76,663,000	75,919,000	74,735,000
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									102,599,000	95,001,000	53,834,000
ASSETS
Total assets	881,194,000				962,239,000				881,194,000	962,239,000	1,065,268,000
International
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations									1,265,060,000	1,104,461,000	1,093,608,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:									91,226,000	123,813,000	254,744,000
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization:									330,388,000	273,315,000	247,134,000
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									265,249,000	653,759,000	365,597,000
ASSETS
Total assets	3,626,307,000				3,702,611,000				3,626,307,000	3,702,611,000	3,279,763,000
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									839,533,000	674,206,000	427,154,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:									79,061,000	55,617,000	42,401,000
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization:									45,209,000	34,162,000	28,452,000
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									39,923,000	136,515,000	28,799,000
ASSETS
Total assets	644,350,000				720,775,000				644,350,000	720,775,000	539,373,000
Completion and Production Services
Segment Reporting Information
Number of operating segments									2
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations									2,320,435,000	1,938,529,000	765,960,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:									292,177,000	303,850,000	98,248,000
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization:									199,131,000	180,323,000	97,765,000
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									214,430,000	451,257,000	1,009,350,000
ASSETS
Total assets	2,120,307,000				2,315,347,000				2,120,307,000	2,315,347,000	1,793,754,000
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates, net of dividends									500,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	1,800,000								1,800,000
U.S Production Services
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations									857,668,000	701,223,000	444,665,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:									103,659,000	74,725,000	31,597,000
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization:									86,730,000	78,314,000	65,561,000
Completion Services
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations									1,462,767,000	1,237,306,000	321,295,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:									188,518,000	229,125,000	66,651,000
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization:									112,401,000	102,009,000	32,204,000
Oil and Gas
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Joint venture earning (losses)									(301,801,000)	59,685,000	18,657,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									(66,033,000)	(91,394,000)	(156,290,000)
ASSETS
Assets held for sale	377,625,000				385,414,000				377,625,000	385,414,000	352,000,000
Other reconciling items
Operating revenues and earnings losses from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations									(586,199,000)	(174,193,000)	(106,033,000)
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:									(150,245,000)	(153,385,000)	(104,827,000)
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization:									(2,614,000)	(229,000)	(2,636,000)
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									52,830,000	191,462,000	101,728,000
ASSETS
Total assets	$ 1,226,394,000				$ 1,303,606,000				$ 1,226,394,000	$ 1,303,606,000	$ 1,513,634,000