Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (4,361)	$ (72,789)	$ 94,760	$ 61,301
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(29,304)	(19,659)	(52,569)	(2,393)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(5,137)	(5,008)	5,002	7,215
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	(12,183)	(19)	(88,157)	(12,484)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(17,320)	(5,027)	(83,155)	(5,269)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	281	260	562	520
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges	153	191	306	382
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(46,190)	(24,235)	(134,856)	(6,760)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(2,063)	140	(2,277)	(3,584)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(44,127)	(24,375)	(132,579)	(3,176)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(48,488)	(97,164)	(37,819)	58,125
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	5,616	(1,174)	5,713	(1,441)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	613	(216)	(801)	27
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	6,229	(1,390)	4,912	(1,414)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(42,259)	(98,554)	(32,907)	56,711
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(4,361)	(72,789)	94,760	61,301
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(29,304)	(19,659)	(52,569)	(2,392)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(5,137)	(5,008)	5,002	7,215
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	(12,183)	(19)	(88,157)	(12,484)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(17,320)	(5,027)	(83,155)	(5,269)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	281	260	562	519
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges	153	191	306	382
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(46,190)	(24,235)	(134,856)	(6,760)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(2,063)	140	(2,277)	(3,584)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(44,127)	(24,375)	(132,579)	(3,176)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(48,488)	(97,164)	(37,819)	58,125
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	5,616	(1,174)	5,713	(1,441)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	613	(216)	(801)	27
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	6,229	(1,390)	4,912	(1,414)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(42,259)	(98,554)	(32,907)	56,711
Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(26,331)	(67,646)	(24,308)	(45,781)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(94)	52	(146)	(1)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	48	(52)	233	11
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	(5,928)		(7,114)	(10,288)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(5,880)	(52)	(6,881)	(10,277)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	281	260	562	519
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges	153	191	306	382
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(5,540)	451	(6,159)	(9,377)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(2,063)	140	(2,277)	(3,584)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(3,477)	311	(3,882)	(5,793)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(29,808)	(67,335)	(28,190)	(51,574)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(29,808)	(67,335)	(28,190)	(51,574)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	14,968	(99,850)	165,161	97,053
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(29,398)	(19,606)	(52,715)	(2,392)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(5,089)	(5,061)	5,235	7,226
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	(18,111)	(19)	(95,271)	(22,772)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(23,200)	(5,080)	(90,036)	(15,546)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	562	520	1,124	1,040
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges	153	191	306	382
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(51,883)	(23,975)	(141,321)	(16,516)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(4,185)	220	(4,672)	(7,288)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(47,698)	(24,195)	(136,649)	(9,228)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(32,730)	(124,045)	28,512	87,825
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	5,616	(1,174)	5,713	(1,441)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	613	(216)	(801)	27
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	6,229	(1,390)	4,912	(1,414)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(26,501)	(125,435)	33,424	86,411
Consolidating Adjustments
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	11,363	167,496	(140,853)	(51,272)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	29,492	19,554	52,861	2,392
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	5,041	5,113	(5,468)	(7,237)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	24,039	19	102,385	33,060
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	29,080	5,132	96,917	25,823
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	(843)	(780)	(1,686)	(1,558)
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges	(306)	(382)	(612)	(764)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	57,423	23,524	147,480	25,893
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	6,248	(360)	6,949	10,872
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	51,175	23,884	140,531	15,021
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	62,538	191,380	(322)	(36,251)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(5,616)	1,174	(5,713)	1,441
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	(613)	216	801	(27)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(6,229)	1,390	(4,912)	1,414
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 56,309	$ 192,770	$ (5,234)	$ (34,837)