Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	$ 1,491,586	$ 1,737,114	$ 3,070,231	$ 3,627,540
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	1,360	(134,317)	4,255	(202,986)
Investment income (loss)	14,821	5,368	94,242	25,620
Total revenues and other income	1,507,767	1,608,165	3,168,728	3,450,174
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	999,192	1,123,256	2,025,234	2,308,072
General and administrative expenses	132,612	133,612	265,157	269,958
Depreciation and amortization	270,199	261,016	543,564	508,637
Interest expense	60,271	63,459	120,279	126,113
Losses (gains) on sales of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	9,312	160,917	69,119	159,077
Total costs and other deductions	1,471,586	1,742,260	3,023,353	3,371,857
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	36,181	(134,095)	145,375	78,317
Income tax expense (benefit)	6,172	(36,192)	17,444	32,852
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	750	750	1,500	1,500
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	29,259	(98,653)	126,431	43,965
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(28,004)	24,690	(25,958)	15,895
Net income (loss)	1,255	(73,963)	100,473	59,860
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(5,616)	1,174	(5,713)	1,441
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(4,361)	(72,789)	94,760	61,301
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(1,005)	(70,408)	106,868	65,471
Investment income (loss)	1		1
Total revenues and other income	(1,004)	(70,408)	106,869	65,471
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	3,221	2,022	5,055	3,549
Losses (gains) on sales of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	136	359	7,054	621
Total costs and other deductions	3,357	2,381	12,109	4,170
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(4,361)	(72,789)	94,760	61,301
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(4,361)	(72,789)	94,760	61,301
Net income (loss)	(4,361)	(72,789)	94,760	61,301
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(5,616)	1,174	(5,713)	1,441
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(4,361)	(72,789)	94,760	61,301
Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	13,700	(35,150)	56,020	19,377
Investment income (loss)	36	16	52	16
Intercompany interest income	32	17,078	61	34,010
Total revenues and other income	13,768	(18,056)	56,133	53,403
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	390	50	427	190
Depreciation and amortization	903	903	1,805	1,805
Interest expense	62,405	68,268	125,454	136,436
Losses (gains) on sales of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	(89)	(546)	(68)	(979)
Total costs and other deductions	63,609	68,675	127,618	137,452
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(49,841)	(86,731)	(71,485)	(84,049)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(23,510)	(19,085)	(47,177)	(38,268)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(26,331)	(67,646)	(24,308)	(45,781)
Net income (loss)	(26,331)	(67,646)	(24,308)	(45,781)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(26,331)	(67,646)	(24,308)	(45,781)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	1,491,586	1,737,114	3,070,231	3,627,540
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	1,360	(134,317)	4,255	(202,986)
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(26,331)	(61,938)	(24,308)	(33,576)
Investment income (loss)	17,057	5,352	96,462	25,604
Total revenues and other income	1,483,672	1,546,211	3,146,640	3,416,582
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	999,192	1,123,256	2,025,234	2,308,072
General and administrative expenses	129,137	131,899	259,955	266,841
Depreciation and amortization	269,296	260,113	541,759	506,832
Interest expense	(2,134)	(4,809)	(5,175)	(10,323)
Intercompany interest expense	32	17,078	61	34,010
Losses (gains) on sales of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	9,129	160,745	61,853	158,813
Total costs and other deductions	1,404,652	1,688,282	2,883,687	3,264,245
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	79,020	(142,071)	262,953	152,337
Income tax expense (benefit)	29,682	(17,107)	64,621	71,120
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	750	750	1,500	1,500
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	48,588	(125,714)	196,832	79,717
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(28,004)	24,690	(25,958)	15,895
Net income (loss)	20,584	(101,024)	170,874	95,612
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(5,616)	1,174	(5,713)	1,441
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	14,968	(99,850)	165,161	97,053
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	13,636	167,496	(138,580)	(51,272)
Investment income (loss)	(2,273)		(2,273)
Intercompany interest income	(32)	(17,078)	(61)	(34,010)
Total revenues and other income	11,331	150,418	(140,914)	(85,282)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	(136)	(359)	(280)	(622)
Intercompany interest expense	(32)	(17,078)	(61)	(34,010)
Losses (gains) on sales of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	136	359	280	622
Total costs and other deductions	(32)	(17,078)	(61)	(34,010)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	11,363	167,496	(140,853)	(51,272)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	11,363	167,496	(140,853)	(51,272)
Net income (loss)	11,363	167,496	(140,853)	(51,272)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	5,616	(1,174)	5,713	(1,441)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ 11,363	$ 167,496	$ (140,853)	$ (51,272)