Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 564,888	$ 524,922	$ 354,022	$ 398,575
Short-term investments	125,592	253,282
Assets held-for-sale	385,133	383,857
Accounts receivable, net	1,434,530	1,382,623
Inventory	245,495	251,133
Deferred income taxes	92,310	110,480
Other current assets	270,750	226,560
Total current assets	3,118,698	3,132,857
Long-term investments	3,910	4,269
Property, plant and equipment, net	8,641,947	8,712,088
Goodwill	487,760	472,326
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	64,598	61,690
Other long-term assets	268,544	272,792
Total assets	12,585,457	12,656,022
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	435	364
Trade accounts payable	492,894	499,010
Accrued liabilities	533,218	599,380
Income taxes payable	64,599	33,628
Total current liabilities	1,091,146	1,132,382
Long-term debt	4,379,758	4,379,336
Other long-term liabilities	490,559	518,664
Deferred income taxes	570,121	599,335
Total liabilities	6,531,584	6,629,717
Subsidiary preferred stock	69,188	69,188
Shareholders' equity	5,973,814	5,944,929
Noncontrolling interest	10,871	12,188
Total equity	5,984,685	5,957,117	5,823,180	5,601,217
Total liabilities and equity	12,585,457	12,656,022
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	946	1,639	3,808	203
Other current assets	50	50
Total current assets	996	1,689
Intercompany receivables	184,068	174,948
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	5,788,937	5,769,518
Total assets	5,974,001	5,946,155
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	54	116
Accrued liabilities	134	1,110
Total current liabilities	188	1,226
Total liabilities	188	1,226
Shareholders' equity	5,973,813	5,944,929
Total equity	5,973,813	5,944,929
Total liabilities and equity	5,974,001	5,946,155
Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	22,090	106,778	21	21
Other current assets	17,074
Total current assets	39,164	106,778
Property, plant and equipment, net	36,429	37,300
Intercompany receivables	3,874	1,690,636
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	5,272,011	5,129,458
Other long-term assets	30,934	31,904
Total assets	5,382,412	6,996,076
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	23	23
Accrued liabilities	33,660	91,520
Total current liabilities	33,683	91,543
Long-term debt	4,379,704	4,379,263
Other long-term liabilities	31,005	30,983
Deferred income taxes	(48,573)	(24,906)
Intercompany payable	901,036	2,535,988
Total liabilities	5,296,855	7,012,871
Shareholders' equity	85,557	(16,795)
Total equity	85,557	(16,795)
Total liabilities and equity	5,382,412	6,996,076
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	541,852	416,505	350,193	398,351
Short-term investments	125,592	253,282
Assets held-for-sale	385,133	383,857
Accounts receivable, net	1,434,530	1,382,623
Inventory	245,495	251,133
Deferred income taxes	92,310	110,480
Other current assets	253,626	226,510
Total current assets	3,078,538	3,024,390
Long-term investments	3,910	4,269
Property, plant and equipment, net	8,605,518	8,674,788
Goodwill	487,760	472,326
Intercompany receivables	713,094	670,404
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	600,500	395,246
Other long-term assets	237,610	240,888
Total assets	13,726,930	13,482,311
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	435	364
Trade accounts payable	492,817	498,871
Accrued liabilities	499,424	506,750
Income taxes payable	64,599	33,628
Total current liabilities	1,057,275	1,039,613
Long-term debt	54	73
Other long-term liabilities	459,554	487,681
Deferred income taxes	618,694	624,241
Total liabilities	2,135,577	2,151,608
Subsidiary preferred stock	69,188	69,188
Shareholders' equity	11,511,294	11,249,327
Noncontrolling interest	10,871	12,188
Total equity	11,522,165	11,261,515
Total liabilities and equity	13,726,930	13,482,311
Consolidating Adjustments
Current assets:
Intercompany receivables	(901,036)	(2,535,988)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(11,596,850)	(11,232,532)
Total assets	(12,497,886)	(13,768,520)
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payable	(901,036)	(2,535,988)
Total liabilities	(901,036)	(2,535,988)
Shareholders' equity	(11,596,850)	(11,232,532)
Total equity	(11,596,850)	(11,232,532)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (12,497,886)	$ (13,768,520)