Earnings (Losses) Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, 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
Earnings (losses) per share computations
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	$ 129,272	$ 65,818	$ (98,653)	$ 142,618	$ 89,535	$ 87,190	$ 70,887	$ 94,552	$ 239,055	$ 342,164	$ 255,870
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,074	988	(1,174)	(267)	1,400	708	(394)	(669)	621	1,045	85
Net income (loss) from continuing operations - basic									238,434	341,119	255,785
Adjusted income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax diluted									238,434	341,119	255,785
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(101,121)	10,826	24,690	(8,795)	(193,985)	(12,226)	121,167	(12,396)	(74,400)	(97,440)	(161,090)
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
Earnings (losses) per share:
Basic from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.44	$ 0.22	$ (0.34)	$ 0.50	$ 0.31	$ 0.30	$ 0.25	$ 0.33	$ 0.82	$ 1.19	$ 0.90
Basic from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.35)	$ 0.04	$ 0.09	$ (0.04)	$ (0.68)	$ (0.04)	$ 0.42	$ (0.04)	$ (0.25)	$ (0.34)	$ (0.57)
Total Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.09	$ 0.26	$ (0.25)	$ 0.46	$ (0.37)	$ 0.26	$ 0.67	$ 0.29	$ 0.57	$ 0.85	$ 0.33
Diluted from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.44	$ 0.22	$ (0.34)	$ 0.49	$ 0.30	$ 0.30	$ 0.24	$ 0.33	$ 0.82	$ 1.17	$ 0.88
Diluted from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.35)	$ 0.04	$ 0.09	$ (0.03)	$ (0.66)	$ (0.05)	$ 0.41	$ (0.05)	$ (0.26)	$ (0.34)	$ (0.55)
Total Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.09	$ 0.26	$ (0.25)	$ 0.46	$ (0.36)	$ 0.25	$ 0.65	$ 0.28	$ 0.56	$ 0.83	$ 0.33
Shares (denominator):
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding - basic									289,965	287,118	285,145
Net effect of dilutive stock options, warrants and restricted stock awards based on the if-converted method (in shares)									2,358	5,366	4,851
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding - diluted									292,323	292,484	289,996