Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	$ 1,616,405,000	$ 1,459,326,000	$ 3,203,578,000	$ 2,997,699,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	133,460,000	89,604,000	242,501,000	232,742,000
Interest expense	(46,303,000)	(60,273,000)	(91,113,000)	(120,284,000)
Investment income (loss)	7,066,000	14,821,000	8,046,000	94,242,000
Gains (losses) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other income (expense), net	(16,504,000)	(9,242,000)	(17,980,000)	(68,979,000)
Impairments and other charges				(45,000,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	77,719,000	34,910,000	141,454,000	137,721,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	10,756,000	6,032,000	24,764,000	15,886,000
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	1,234,000	750,000	1,984,000	1,500,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	65,729,000	28,128,000	114,706,000	120,335,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1,032,000)	(26,873,000)	483,000	(19,862,000)
Net income (loss)	64,697,000	1,255,000	115,189,000	100,473,000
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(253,000)	(5,616,000)	(826,000)	(5,713,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	64,444,000	(4,361,000)	114,363,000	94,760,000
ASSETS
Total assets	12,435,999,000		12,435,999,000		12,159,811,000
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net			(3,021,000)	3,891,000
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	1,140,746,000	1,001,459,000	2,281,638,000	2,068,846,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	149,844,000	100,806,000	305,345,000	231,675,000
ASSETS
Total assets	9,320,162,000		9,320,162,000		8,915,262,000
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net	(800,000)	1,200,000	(3,300,000)	4,000,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	51,300,000		51,300,000		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:	532,894,000	467,129,000	1,043,370,000	951,902,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	89,977,000	69,813,000	162,471,000	147,408,000
ASSETS
Total assets	4,352,311,000		4,352,311,000		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:	54,861,000	64,789,000	166,482,000	191,656,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	225,000	3,895,000	26,385,000	34,413,000
ASSETS
Total assets	647,313,000		647,313,000		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:	391,251,000	351,421,000	766,320,000	672,937,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	50,583,000	32,481,000	98,702,000	53,950,000
ASSETS
Total assets	3,817,316,000		3,817,316,000		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:	161,740,000	118,120,000	305,466,000	252,351,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	9,059,000	(5,383,000)	17,787,000	(4,096,000)
ASSETS
Total assets	503,222,000		503,222,000		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:	535,017,000	498,618,000	1,038,316,000	1,012,327,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	29,308,000	30,341,000	26,264,000	74,111,000
ASSETS
Total assets	2,319,326,000		2,319,326,000		2,394,865,000
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net	200,000	200,000	300,000	300,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	9,200,000		9,200,000		7,400,000
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:	276,639,000	254,016,000	504,538,000	516,154,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(581,000)	6,870,000	(34,216,000)	24,626,000
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:	258,378,000	244,602,000	533,778,000	496,173,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	29,889,000	23,471,000	60,480,000	49,485,000
Other reconciling items
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	(59,358,000)	(40,751,000)	(116,376,000)	(83,474,000)
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(45,692,000)	(41,543,000)	(89,108,000)	(73,044,000)
ASSETS
Total assets	$ 796,511,000		$ 796,511,000		$ 849,684,000