Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ 27,077	$ 75,656	$ (72,789)	$ 134,090	$ (105,850)	$ 74,256	$ 192,448	$ 82,825	$ 164,034	$ 243,679	$ 94,695
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									21,073	(20,257)	60,897
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities									98,138	5,356	278
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses included in net income (loss)									(13,405)	(3,036)	(1,694)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities									84,733	2,320	(1,416)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									(324)	(5,391)	(376)
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges									702	763	(5,282)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									106,184	(22,565)	53,823
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									(4,147)	(1,777)	4,477
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									110,331	(20,788)	49,346
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									274,365	222,891	144,041
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,074	988	(1,174)	(267)	1,400	708	(394)	(669)	621	1,045	85
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest									311	(185)	723
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									932	860	808
Comprehensive income (loss)									275,297	223,751	144,849
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									164,034	243,679	94,695
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									21,073	(20,257)	60,897
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities									98,138	5,356	278
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses included in net income (loss)									(13,405)	(3,036)	(1,694)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities									84,733	2,320	(1,416)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									(324)	(5,391)	(376)
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges									702	763	(5,282)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									106,184	(22,565)	53,823
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									(4,147)	(1,777)	4,477
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									110,331	(20,788)	49,346
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									274,365	222,891	144,041
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									621
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest									311	(185)	723
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									932	860	808
Comprehensive income (loss)									275,297	223,751	144,849
Nabors Delaware (Issuer/Guarantor)
Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(234,080)	81,298	(345,287)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									(88)	(5,511)	(3,113)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities									133	226	19,390
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses included in net income (loss)									(11,488)		(1,808)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities									(11,355)	226	17,582
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									(324)	(5,391)	(376)
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges									702	763	(5,282)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									(11,065)	(9,913)	8,811
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									(4,147)	(1,777)	4,477
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(6,918)	(8,136)	4,334
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(240,998)	73,162	(340,953)
Comprehensive income (loss)									(240,998)	73,162	(340,953)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									84,641	496,791	(85,863)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									20,987	(25,768)	57,784
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities									98,271	5,582	19,668
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses included in net income (loss)									(24,893)	(3,036)	(3,502)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities									73,378	2,546	16,166
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									(648)	(10,782)	(752)
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges									702	763	(5,282)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									94,419	(33,241)	67,916
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									(8,533)	(3,793)	11,073
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									102,952	(29,448)	56,843
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									187,593	467,343	(29,020)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									621	1,045	85
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest									311	(185)	723
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									932	860	808
Comprehensive income (loss)									188,525	468,203	(28,212)
Consolidating Adjustments
Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									149,439	(578,089)	431,150
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									(20,899)	31,279	(54,671)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities									(98,404)	(5,808)	(39,058)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses included in net income (loss)									36,381	3,036	5,310
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities									(62,023)	(2,772)	(33,748)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									972	16,173	1,128
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges									(1,404)	(1,526)	10,564
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									(83,354)	43,154	(76,727)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									12,680	5,570	(15,550)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(96,034)	37,584	(61,177)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									53,405	(540,505)	369,973
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									(621)	(1,045)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest									(311)	185	(723)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									(932)	(860)	(808)
Comprehensive income (loss)									$ 52,473	$ (541,365)	$ 369,165