Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	$ 1,492,946,000	$ 1,602,797,000	$ 3,074,486,000	$ 3,424,554,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations	90,943,000	225,347,000	240,531,000	540,883,000
Joint venture earnings (losses)	1,360,000	(134,317,000)	4,255,000	(202,986,000)
Interest expense	(60,271,000)	(63,459,000)	(120,279,000)	(126,113,000)
Investment income (loss)	14,821,000	5,368,000	94,242,000	25,620,000
Gains (losses) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other income (expense), net	(9,312,000)	(160,917,000)	(69,119,000)	(159,077,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	36,181,000	(134,095,000)	145,375,000	78,317,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	6,172,000	(36,192,000)	17,444,000	32,852,000
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	750,000	750,000	1,500,000	1,500,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	29,259,000	(98,653,000)	126,431,000	43,965,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(28,004,000)	24,690,000	(25,958,000)	15,895,000
Net income (loss)	1,255,000	(73,963,000)	100,473,000	59,860,000
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(5,616,000)	1,174,000	(5,713,000)	1,441,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(4,361,000)	(72,789,000)	94,760,000	61,301,000
ASSETS
Total assets	12,266,903,000		12,266,903,000		12,656,022,000
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net			3,891,000	(202,985,000)
Assets held-for-sale	351,263,000		351,263,000		383,857,000
Drilling and Rig Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	1,035,801,000	1,198,016,000	2,148,267,000	2,518,079,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations	102,145,000	189,402,000	239,464,000	450,265,000
ASSETS
Total assets	9,022,513,000		9,022,513,000		9,127,826,000
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net	1,200,000	6,100,000	4,000,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	62,700,000		62,700,000		59,900,000
U.S.
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	467,129,000	598,765,000	951,902,000	1,225,870,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations	69,813,000	145,351,000	147,408,000	312,084,000
ASSETS
Total assets	4,179,649,000		4,179,649,000		4,157,470,000
Canada
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	64,789,000	66,015,000	191,656,000	210,750,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations	3,895,000	(529,000)	34,413,000	42,617,000
ASSETS
Total assets	631,078,000		631,078,000		699,699,000
International
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	351,421,000	304,622,000	672,937,000	611,087,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations	32,481,000	16,401,000	53,950,000	37,539,000
ASSETS
Total assets	3,581,505,000		3,581,505,000		3,626,307,000
Rig Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	152,462,000	228,614,000	331,772,000	470,372,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations	(4,044,000)	28,179,000	3,693,000	58,025,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	6,216,000	(7,074,000)	8,215,000	(8,067,000)
ASSETS
Total assets	630,281,000		630,281,000		644,350,000
Assets held-for-sale					6,232,000
Completion and Production Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	498,618,000	628,043,000	1,012,327,000	1,283,338,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations	30,341,000	71,541,000	74,111,000	164,430,000
ASSETS
Total assets	2,252,618,000		2,252,618,000		2,301,802,000
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net	200,000		300,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	5,700,000		5,700,000		1,800,000
Production Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	244,602,000	240,380,000	496,173,000	497,639,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations	23,471,000	25,397,000	49,485,000	53,426,000
Completion Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates from continuing operations	254,016,000	387,663,000	516,154,000	785,699,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations	6,870,000	46,144,000	24,626,000	111,004,000
Oil and Gas
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Joint venture earnings (losses)		(140,434,000)		(202,996,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(34,220,000)	31,764,000	(34,173,000)	23,962,000
ASSETS
Assets held-for-sale	351,263,000		351,263,000		377,625,000
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	(41,473,000)	(223,262,000)	(86,108,000)	(376,863,000)
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities from continuing operations	(41,543,000)	(35,596,000)	(73,044,000)	(73,812,000)
ASSETS
Total assets	$ 991,772,000		$ 991,772,000		$ 1,226,394,000