Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 326,881,000	$ 389,915,000	$ 564,888,000	$ 524,922,000
Short-term investments	97,886,000	117,218,000
Assets held for sale	231,880,000	243,264,000
Accounts receivable, net	1,454,368,000	1,399,543,000
Inventory	194,371,000	209,793,000
Deferred income taxes	133,667,000	121,316,000
Other current assets	252,215,000	272,781,000
Total current assets	2,691,268,000	2,753,830,000
Long-term investments	2,915,000	3,236,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	8,690,759,000	8,597,813,000
Goodwill	512,391,000	512,964,000
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	63,069,000	64,260,000
Other long-term assets	226,671,000	227,708,000
Total assets	12,187,073,000	12,159,811,000
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	5,296,000	10,185,000
Trade accounts payable	631,015,000	545,512,000
Accrued liabilities	584,748,000	697,093,000
Income taxes payable	17,083,000	58,634,000
Total current liabilities	1,238,142,000	1,311,424,000
Long-term debt	3,812,476,000	3,904,117,000
Other long-term liabilities	569,993,000	377,744,000
Deferred income taxes	526,005,000	516,161,000
Total liabilities	6,146,616,000	6,109,446,000
Subsidiary preferred stock	69,188,000	69,188,000
Shareholders' equity	5,960,469,000	5,969,086,000
Noncontrolling interest	10,800,000	12,091,000
Total equity	5,971,269,000	5,981,177,000	5,984,685,000	5,957,117,000
Total liabilities and equity	12,187,073,000	12,159,811,000
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	892,000	730,000	946,000	1,639,000
Accounts receivable, net		27,000
Other current assets	50,000	50,000
Total current assets	942,000	807,000
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	150,000	86,000
Accrued liabilities	328,000	378,000
Total current liabilities	478,000	464,000
Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	4,000	7,029,000	22,090,000	106,778,000
Other current assets	30,214,000	26,378,000
Total current assets	30,218,000	33,407,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	32,944,000	33,815,000
Other long-term assets	32,630,000	34,487,000
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	2,000	25,000
Accrued liabilities	18,094,000	65,947,000
Total current liabilities	18,096,000	65,972,000
Long-term debt	3,804,956,000	3,904,059,000
Other long-term liabilities	30,142,000	31,071,000
Deferred income taxes	(237,076,000)	(213,233,000)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	325,985,000	382,156,000	541,852,000	416,505,000
Short-term investments	97,886,000	117,218,000
Assets held for sale	231,880,000	243,264,000
Accounts receivable, net	1,454,368,000	1,399,516,000
Inventory	194,371,000	209,793,000
Deferred income taxes	133,667,000	121,316,000
Other current assets	221,951,000	246,353,000
Total current assets	2,660,108,000	2,719,616,000
Long-term investments	2,915,000	3,236,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	8,657,815,000	8,563,998,000
Goodwill	512,391,000	512,964,000
Other long-term assets	194,041,000	193,221,000
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	5,296,000	10,185,000
Trade accounts payable	630,863,000	545,401,000
Accrued liabilities	566,326,000	630,768,000
Income taxes payable	17,083,000	58,634,000
Total current liabilities	1,219,568,000	1,244,988,000
Long-term debt	7,520,000	58,000
Other long-term liabilities	539,851,000	346,673,000
Deferred income taxes	763,081,000	729,394,000
Subsidiary preferred stock	69,188,000	69,188,000
Noncontrolling interest	10,800,000	12,091,000
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Current assets:
Intercompany receivables	153,352,000	160,136,000
Investment in consolidated affiliates	5,806,653,000	5,808,607,000
Total assets	5,960,947,000	5,969,550,000
Current liabilities:
Total liabilities	478,000	464,000
Shareholders' equity	5,960,469,000	5,969,086,000
Total equity	5,960,469,000	5,969,086,000
Total liabilities and equity	5,960,947,000	5,969,550,000
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Current assets:
Intercompany receivables		3,891,000
Investment in consolidated affiliates	6,088,501,000	6,097,337,000
Total assets	6,184,293,000	6,202,937,000
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payable	1,940,745,000	1,747,566,000
Total liabilities	5,556,863,000	5,535,435,000
Shareholders' equity	627,430,000	667,502,000
Total equity	627,430,000	667,502,000
Total liabilities and equity	6,184,293,000	6,202,937,000
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Current assets:
Intercompany receivables	1,787,393,000	1,583,539,000
Investment in consolidated affiliates	1,749,780,000	1,789,851,000
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	63,069,000	64,260,000
Total assets	15,627,512,000	15,430,685,000
Current liabilities:
Total liabilities	2,530,020,000	2,321,113,000
Shareholders' equity	13,017,504,000	13,028,293,000
Total equity	13,028,304,000	13,040,384,000
Total liabilities and equity	15,627,512,000	15,430,685,000
Consolidating Adjustments
Current assets:
Intercompany receivables	(1,940,745,000)	(1,747,566,000)
Investment in consolidated affiliates	(13,644,934,000)	(13,695,795,000)
Total assets	(15,585,679,000)	(15,443,361,000)
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payable	(1,940,745,000)	(1,747,566,000)
Total liabilities	(1,940,745,000)	(1,747,566,000)
Shareholders' equity	(13,644,934,000)	(13,695,795,000)
Total equity	(13,644,934,000)	(13,695,795,000)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (15,585,679,000)	$ (15,443,361,000)