Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 5) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	$ 974,715	$ 1,094,045
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments		(949)
Sales and maturities of investments	163,944	30,111
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net	(37,516)
Capital expenditures	(780,711)	(1,221,769)
Proceeds from sale of unconsolidated affiliates	10,000
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(5,967)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	139,254	128,432
Other	(7)
Net cash used for investing activities	(511,003)	(1,064,175)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	(7,497)	(1,748)
Dividends to shareholders	(35,357)
Debt issuance costs	(3,505)
Proceeds from debt	710,086
Proceeds from revolving credit facility		710,000
Proceeds from (payments for) commercial paper, net	332,250
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares	4,375	(4,007)
Reduction in long-term debt	(994,181)	(276,232)
Reduction in revolving credit facility	(590,000)	(380,000)
Purchase of restricted stock	(3,096)	(2,071)
Tax benefit related to share-based awards		(54)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(586,925)	45,888
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(5,786)	(2,771)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(128,999)	72,987
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	524,922	398,575
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	395,923	471,562
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	5,671	6,572
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates	(100)
Net cash used for investing activities	(100)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends to shareholders	(38,767)
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares	4,375	(4,006)
Purchase of restricted stock	(3,096)	(2,071)
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of parent common shares to affiliate	32,072
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(5,416)	(6,077)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	155	495
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	1,639	203
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,794	698
Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	(158,238)	(37,698)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates	(772,000)
Changes in intercompany balances	615,328	(51,262)
Net cash used for investing activities	(156,672)	(51,262)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends to shareholders		(9,003)
Debt issuance costs	(3,505)
Proceeds from debt	698,517
Proceeds from revolving credit facility		710,000
Proceeds from (payments for) commercial paper, net	332,250
Reduction in long-term debt	(994,112)	(224,997)
Reduction in revolving credit facility	(590,000)	(380,000)
Proceeds from parent contributions	772,000
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	215,150	96,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(99,760)	7,040
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	106,778	21
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	7,018	7,061
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	1,098,620	1,155,677
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments		(949)
Sales and maturities of investments	163,944	30,111
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net	(37,516)
Capital expenditures	(780,711)	(1,221,769)
Proceeds from sale of unconsolidated affiliates	10,000
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(5,967)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	139,254	128,432
Other	(7)
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates	(1,544,000)
Changes in intercompany balances	(615,328)	51,262
Net cash used for investing activities	(2,670,331)	(1,012,913)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	(7,497)	(1,748)
Dividends to shareholders		(21,503)
Proceeds from debt	11,569
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares		(1)
Reduction in long-term debt	(69)	(51,235)
Tax benefit related to share-based awards		(54)
Proceeds from parent contributions	1,544,100
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	1,548,103	(74,541)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(5,786)	(2,771)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(29,394)	65,452
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	416,505	398,351
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	387,111	463,803
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	28,662	(30,506)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates	2,316,100
Net cash used for investing activities	2,316,100
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends to shareholders	3,410	30,506
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of parent common shares to affiliate	(32,072)
Proceeds from parent contributions	(2,316,100)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	$ (2,344,762)	$ 30,506