Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (105,381)	$ 75,656	$ (10,621)	$ 136,957
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	15,716	31,550	(36,853)	29,157
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(3,416)	13,667	1,586	20,882
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	(2)	(1,523)	(88,159)	(14,007)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(3,418)	12,144	(86,573)	6,875
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	280	260	842	780
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges	153	166	459	548
Net other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	12,731	44,120	(122,125)	37,360
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	116	(272)	(2,161)	(3,856)
Net other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	12,615	44,392	(119,964)	41,216
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(92,766)	120,048	(130,585)	178,173
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	441	988	6,154	(453)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	229	390	(572)	417
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	670	1,378	5,582	(36)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(92,096)	121,426	(125,003)	178,137
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(105,381)	75,656	(10,621)	136,957
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	15,716	31,550	(36,853)	29,157
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(3,416)	13,667	1,586	20,882
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	(2)	(1,523)	(88,159)	(14,007)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(3,418)	12,144	(86,573)	6,875
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	280	260	842	780
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges	153	166	459	548
Net other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	12,731	44,120	(122,125)	37,360
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	116	(272)	(2,161)	(3,856)
Net other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	12,615	44,392	(119,964)	41,216
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(92,766)	120,048	(130,585)	178,173
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	229	390	(572)	417
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	670	1,378	5,582	(36)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(92,096)	121,426	(125,003)	178,137
Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(82,783)	(184,026)	(107,091)	(229,806)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	331	(99)	185	(100)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(135)	6	98	17
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities		(1,200)	(7,114)	(11,488)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(135)	(1,194)	(7,016)	(11,471)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	280	260	842	779
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges	153	166	459	548
Net other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	629	(867)	(5,530)	(10,244)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	116	(272)	(2,161)	(3,856)
Net other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	513	(595)	(3,369)	(6,388)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(82,270)	(184,621)	(110,460)	(236,194)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(82,270)	(184,621)	(110,460)	(236,194)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(12,446)	(68,951)	152,715	28,101
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	16,046	31,451	(36,669)	29,057
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(3,551)	13,673	1,684	20,899
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	(2)	(2,723)	(95,273)	(25,495)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(3,553)	10,950	(93,589)	(4,596)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	560	520	1,684	1,560
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges	153	166	459	548
Net other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	13,206	43,087	(128,115)	26,569
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	173	(604)	(4,499)	(7,892)
Net other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	13,033	43,691	(123,616)	34,461
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	587	(25,260)	29,099	62,562
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	441	988	6,154	(453)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	229	390	(572)	417
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	670	1,378	5,582	(36)
Comprehensive income (loss)	1,257	(23,882)	34,681	62,526
Consolidating Adjustments
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	95,229	252,977	(45,624)	201,705
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(16,377)	(31,352)	36,484	(28,957)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	3,686	(13,679)	(1,782)	(20,916)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	2	3,923	102,387	36,983
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	3,688	(9,756)	100,605	16,067
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	(840)	(780)	(2,526)	(2,339)
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of (gains)/losses on cash flow hedges	(306)	(332)	(918)	(1,096)
Net other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(13,835)	(42,220)	133,645	(16,325)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(289)	876	6,660	11,748
Net other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(13,546)	(43,096)	126,985	(28,073)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	81,683	209,881	81,361	173,632
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	(229)	(390)	572	(417)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(670)	(1,378)	(5,582)	36
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 81,013	$ 208,503	$ 75,779	$ 173,668