Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	$ 444,563	$ 179,295
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments	(286)
Sales and maturities of investments	733	142,336
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net	(10,200)	(37,516)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(1,255)	(12)
Capital expenditures	(396,465)	(235,539)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	21,605	6,605
Net cash used for investing activities	(385,868)	(124,126)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	(1,822)	(1,975)
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares	4,931	1,027
Dividends to shareholders	(11,893)
Proceeds from (payments for) commercial paper, net	(39,594)	(12,891)
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities	15,000
Reduction in revolving credit facilities	(67,500)
Other	(11,585)	1,395
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(112,463)	(12,444)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(9,266)	(2,759)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(63,034)	39,966
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	389,915	524,922
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	326,881	564,888
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares	4,931	1,027
Other	(6,585)	(2,773)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	162	(693)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	730	1,639
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	892	946
Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Changes in intercompany balances	176,446	54,192
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from (payments for) commercial paper, net	(39,594)
Reduction in revolving credit facilities	(60,000)
Other		(89)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(7,025)	(84,688)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	7,029	106,778
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	4	22,090
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments	(286)
Sales and maturities of investments	733	142,336
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net	(10,200)	(37,516)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(1,255)	(12)
Capital expenditures	(396,465)	(235,539)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	21,605	6,605
Changes in intercompany balances	(176,446)	(54,192)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	(1,822)	(1,975)
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities	15,000
Reduction in revolving credit facilities	(7,500)
Other	(5,000)	4,257
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(9,266)	(2,759)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(56,171)	125,347
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	382,156	416,505
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	325,985	541,852
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	(1,579)	1,144
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends to shareholders	(13,029)	(12,891)
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of parent common shares to affiliates	16,424	12,800
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	1,741	(1,837)
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	(83,877)	(138,791)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates		(100,000)
Net cash used for investing activities	176,446	(45,808)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from parent contributions		100,000
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	(99,594)	99,911
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	514,731	304,142
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates		(200,000)
Net cash used for investing activities	(562,314)	(378,318)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from parent contributions		200,000
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	678	202,282
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	15,288	12,800
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates		300,000
Net cash used for investing activities		300,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends to shareholders	1,136
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of parent common shares to affiliates	(16,424)	(12,800)
Proceeds from parent contributions		(300,000)
Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities	$ (15,288)	$ (312,800)