Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 508,128		$ 524,922	$ 320,398	$ 398,575
Short-term investments	99,832		253,282
Assets held for sale	351,263		383,857
Accounts receivable, net	1,342,386		1,382,623
Inventory	235,042		251,133
Deferred income taxes	103,779		110,480
Other current assets	252,402		226,560
Total current assets	2,892,832		3,132,857
Long-term investments	3,629		4,269
Property, plant and equipment, net	8,577,586		8,712,088
Goodwill	487,252		472,326
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	68,444		61,690
Other long-term assets	237,160		272,792
Total assets	12,266,903		12,656,022
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	11,445		364
Trade accounts payable	498,081		499,010
Accrued liabilities	634,835		599,380
Income taxes payable	35,795		33,628
Total current liabilities	1,180,156		1,132,382
Long-term debt	4,071,191		4,379,336
Other long-term liabilities	464,465		518,664
Deferred income taxes	548,618		599,335
Total liabilities	6,264,430		6,629,717
Subsidiary preferred stock	69,188		69,188
Shareholders' equity	5,922,563		5,944,929
Noncontrolling interest	10,722	(2,386)	12,188
Total equity	5,933,285		5,957,117	5,728,902	5,601,217
Total liabilities and equity	12,266,903		12,656,022
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	3,509		1,639	828	203
Other current assets	800		50
Total current assets	4,309		1,689
Intercompany receivables	172,413		174,948
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	5,746,083		5,769,518
Total assets	5,922,805		5,946,155
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	624		116
Accrued liabilities	(381)		1,110
Total current liabilities	243		1,226
Total liabilities	243		1,226
Shareholders' equity	5,922,562		5,944,929
Total equity	5,922,562		5,944,929
Total liabilities and equity	5,922,805		5,946,155
Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	12,778		106,778	6,946	21
Other current assets	22,359
Total current assets	35,137		106,778
Property, plant and equipment, net	35,557		37,300
Intercompany receivables	3,893		1,690,636
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	5,812,170		5,129,458
Other long-term assets	29,572		31,904
Total assets	5,916,329		6,996,076
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	22		23
Accrued liabilities	90,965		91,520
Total current liabilities	90,987		91,543
Long-term debt	4,085,139		4,379,263
Other long-term liabilities	31,027		30,983
Deferred income taxes	(72,083)		(24,906)
Intercompany payable	1,195,481		2,535,988
Total liabilities	5,330,551		7,012,871
Shareholders' equity	585,778		(16,795)
Total equity	585,778		(16,795)
Total liabilities and equity	5,916,329		6,996,076
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	491,841		416,505	312,624	398,351
Short-term investments	99,832		253,282
Assets held for sale	351,263		383,857
Accounts receivable, net	1,342,386		1,382,623
Inventory	235,042		251,133
Deferred income taxes	103,779		110,480
Other current assets	229,243		226,510
Total current assets	2,853,386		3,024,390
Long-term investments	3,629		4,269
Property, plant and equipment, net	8,542,029		8,674,788
Goodwill	487,252		472,326
Intercompany receivables	1,019,175		670,404
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	1,630,573		395,246
Other long-term assets	207,588		240,888
Total assets	14,743,632		13,482,311
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	11,445		364
Trade accounts payable	497,435		498,871
Accrued liabilities	544,251		506,750
Income taxes payable	35,795		33,628
Total current liabilities	1,088,926		1,039,613
Long-term debt	(13,948)		73
Other long-term liabilities	433,438		487,681
Deferred income taxes	620,701		624,241
Total liabilities	2,129,117		2,151,608
Subsidiary preferred stock	69,188		69,188
Shareholders' equity	12,534,605		11,249,327
Noncontrolling interest	10,722		12,188
Total equity	12,545,327		11,261,515
Total liabilities and equity	14,743,632		13,482,311
Consolidating Adjustments
Current assets:
Intercompany receivables	(1,195,481)		(2,535,988)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(13,120,382)		(11,232,532)
Total assets	(14,315,863)		(13,768,520)
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payable	(1,195,481)		(2,535,988)
Total liabilities	(1,195,481)		(2,535,988)
Shareholders' equity	(13,120,382)		(11,232,532)
Total equity	(13,120,382)		(11,232,532)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (14,315,863)		$ (13,768,520)