Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ 99,121	$ 134,090
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(23,265)	17,266
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	10,139	12,223
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	(75,974)	(12,465)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(65,835)	(242)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	281	260
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges	153	191
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(88,666)	17,475
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(214)	(3,724)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(88,452)	21,199
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	10,669	155,289
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	97	(267)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,414)	243
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,317)	(24)
Comprehensive income (loss)	9,352	155,265
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	99,121	134,090
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(23,265)	17,266
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	10,139	12,223
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	(75,974)	(12,465)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(65,835)	(242)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	281	260
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges	153	191
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(88,666)	17,475
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(214)	(3,724)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(88,452)	21,199
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	10,669	155,289
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	97	(267)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,414)	243
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,317)	(24)
Comprehensive income (loss)	9,352	155,265
Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	2,023	21,865
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(52)	(53)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	185	64
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	(1,186)	(10,288)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(1,001)	(10,224)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	281	260
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges	153	191
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(619)	(9,826)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(214)	(3,724)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(405)	(6,102)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	1,618	15,763
Comprehensive income (loss)	1,618	15,763
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	150,193	196,903
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(23,317)	17,213
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	10,324	12,287
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	(77,160)	(22,753)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(66,836)	(10,466)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	562	520
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges	153	191
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(89,438)	7,458
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(487)	(7,508)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(88,951)	14,966
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	61,242	211,869
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	97	(267)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,414)	243
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,317)	(24)
Comprehensive income (loss)	59,925	211,845
Consolidating Adjustments
Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(152,216)	(218,768)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	23,369	(17,160)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(10,509)	(12,351)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	78,346	33,041
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	67,837	20,690
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	(843)	(780)
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges	(306)	(382)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	90,057	2,368
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	701	11,232
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	89,356	(8,864)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(62,860)	(227,632)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(97)	267
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,414	(243)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,317	24
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ (61,543)	$ (227,608)