Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	$ 1,587,173,000	$ 1,538,373,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	109,041,000	143,138,000
Interest expense	(44,810,000)	(60,011,000)
Investment income (loss)	980,000	79,421,000
Gains (losses) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other income (expense), net	(1,476,000)	(59,737,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	63,735,000	102,811,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	14,008,000	9,854,000
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	750,000	750,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	48,977,000	92,207,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,515,000	7,011,000
Net income (loss)	50,492,000	99,218,000
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(573,000)	(97,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	49,919,000	99,121,000
ASSETS
Total assets	12,187,073,000		12,159,811,000
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net	(2,445,000)	2,896,000
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	1,140,892,000	1,067,387,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	155,501,000	130,869,000
ASSETS
Total assets	9,096,706,000		8,915,262,000
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net	(2,500,000)	2,800,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	54,400,000		56,900,000
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | U.S.
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	510,476,000	484,773,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	72,494,000	77,595,000
ASSETS
Total assets	4,340,581,000		4,248,630,000
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | Canada
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	111,621,000	126,867,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	26,160,000	30,518,000
ASSETS
Total assets	608,533,000		608,018,000
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | International
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	375,069,000	321,516,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	48,119,000	21,469,000
ASSETS
Total assets	3,668,340,000		3,584,339,000
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | Rig Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	143,726,000	134,231,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	8,728,000	1,287,000
ASSETS
Total assets	479,252,000		474,275,000
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	503,299,000	513,709,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(3,044,000)	43,770,000
ASSETS
Total assets	2,314,481,000		2,394,865,000
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net	100,000	100,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	8,700,000		7,400,000
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services | Reportable subsegments | Production Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	275,400,000	251,571,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	30,591,000	26,014,000
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services | Reportable subsegments | Completion Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	227,899,000	262,138,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(33,635,000)	17,756,000
Other reconciling items
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	(57,018,000)	(42,723,000)
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(43,416,000)	(31,501,000)
ASSETS
Total assets	$ 775,886,000		$ 849,684,000