Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 5) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	$ 665,408,000	$ 711,937,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments		(795,000)
Sales and maturities of investments	163,161,000	25,517,000
Proceeds from sale of unconsolidated affiliates	10,000,000
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(3,927,000)
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net	(37,516,000)
Capital expenditures	(500,368,000)	(967,861,000)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	29,731,000	116,923,000
Other	(3,142,000)
Net cash used for investing activities	(342,061,000)	(826,216,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	(8,686,000)	(2,060,000)
Proceeds from revolving credit facility		200,000,000
Dividends to shareholders	(23,552,000)
Proceeds from debt	11,569,000
Debt issuance costs	(87,000)
Proceeds from (payments for) commercial paper, net	295,000,000
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares	3,200,000	(5,066,000)
Reduction in long-term debt	(17,853,000)	(1,235,000)
Reduction in revolving credit facility	(590,000,000)	(150,000,000)
Purchase of restricted stock	(3,023,000)	(2,071,000)
Tax benefit related to share-based awards		(36,000)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(333,432,000)	39,532,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(6,709,000)	(3,430,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(16,794,000)	(78,177,000)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	524,922,000	398,575,000
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	508,128,000	320,398,000
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	(4,554,000)	7,762,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends to shareholders	(25,825,000)
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares	3,200,000	(5,066,000)
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of parent common shares to affiliate	32,072,000
Purchase of restricted stock	(3,023,000)	(2,071,000)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	6,424,000	(7,137,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,870,000	625,000
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	1,639,000	203,000
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	3,509,000	828,000
Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	(147,280,000)	(55,008,000)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates	(626,000,000)
Changes in intercompany balances	348,367,000	(38,067,000)
Net cash used for investing activities	(277,633,000)	(38,067,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from revolving credit facility		200,000,000
Debt issuance costs	(87,000)
Proceeds from (payments for) commercial paper, net	295,000,000
Proceeds from parent contributions	626,000,000
Reduction in revolving credit facility	(590,000,000)	(100,000,000)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	330,913,000	100,000,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(94,000,000)	6,925,000
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	106,778,000	21,000
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	12,778,000	6,946,000
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	787,443,000	771,683,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments		(795,000)
Sales and maturities of investments	163,161,000	25,517,000
Proceeds from sale of unconsolidated affiliates	10,000,000
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(3,927,000)
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net	(37,516,000)
Capital expenditures	(500,368,000)	(967,861,000)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	29,731,000	116,923,000
Other	(3,142,000)
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates	(1,252,000,000)
Changes in intercompany balances	(348,367,000)	38,067,000
Net cash used for investing activities	(1,942,428,000)	(788,149,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	(8,686,000)	(2,060,000)
Proceeds from debt	11,569,000
Proceeds from parent contributions	1,252,000,000	(12,500,000)
Reduction in long-term debt	(17,853,000)	(1,235,000)
Reduction in revolving credit facility		(50,000,000)
Tax benefit related to share-based awards		(36,000)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	1,237,030,000	(65,831,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(6,709,000)	(3,430,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	75,336,000	(85,727,000)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	416,505,000	398,351,000
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	491,841,000	312,624,000
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	29,799,000	(12,500,000)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates	1,878,000,000
Net cash used for investing activities	1,878,000,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends to shareholders	2,273,000
Proceeds from parent contributions	(1,878,000,000)	12,500,000
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of parent common shares to affiliate	(32,072,000)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	$ (1,907,799,000)	$ 12,500,000