Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	$ 1,616,981	$ 1,457,966	$ 3,206,599	$ 2,993,444
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	(576)	1,360	(3,021)	4,255
Investment income (loss)	7,066	14,821	8,046	94,242
Total revenues and other income	1,623,471	1,474,147	3,211,624	3,091,941
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	1,066,495	972,310	2,128,234	1,967,302
General and administrative expenses	133,630	131,202	267,896	262,080
Depreciation and amortization	282,820	266,210	564,947	535,575
Interest expense	46,303	60,273	91,113	120,284
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	16,504	9,242	17,980	68,979
Total costs and other deductions	1,545,752	1,439,237	3,070,170	2,954,220
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	77,719	34,910	141,454	137,721
Income tax expense (benefit)	10,756	6,032	24,764	15,886
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	1,234	750	1,984	1,500
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	65,729	28,128	114,706	120,335
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1,032)	(26,873)	483	(19,862)
Net income (loss)	64,697	1,255	115,189	100,473
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(253)	(5,616)	(826)	(5,713)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	64,444	(4,361)	114,363	94,760
Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Costs and other deductions:
Depreciation and amortization	902	903	1,804	1,805
Interest expense	49,313	62,405	98,682	125,454
Income tax expense (benefit)	(18,514)	(23,510)	(36,914)	(47,177)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	1,616,981	1,491,586	3,206,599	3,070,231
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	(576)	1,360	(3,021)	4,255
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	1,066,495	999,192	2,128,234	2,025,234
Depreciation and amortization	281,918	269,296	563,143	541,759
Interest expense	(3,010)	(2,134)	(7,569)	(5,175)
Income tax expense (benefit)	29,270	29,682	61,678	64,621
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend	1,234	750	1,984	1,500
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1,032)	(28,004)	483	(25,958)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(253)	(5,616)	(826)	(5,713)
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	67,009	(1,005)	119,592	106,868
Investment income (loss)		1		1
Total revenues and other income	67,009	(1,004)	119,592	106,869
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	2,439	3,221	4,892	5,055
Intercompany interest expense	(3)		59
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	129	136	278	7,054
Total costs and other deductions	2,565	3,357	5,229	12,109
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	64,444	(4,361)	114,363	94,760
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	64,444	(4,361)	114,363	94,760
Net income (loss)	64,444	(4,361)	114,363	94,760
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	64,444	(4,361)	114,363	94,760
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	53,368	13,700	44,608	56,020
Investment income (loss)	146	36	146	52
Intercompany interest income		32		61
Total revenues and other income	53,514	13,768	44,754	56,133
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	(31)	390	(350)	427
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net		(89)	(223)	(68)
Total costs and other deductions	50,184	63,609	99,913	127,618
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	3,330	(49,841)	(55,159)	(71,485)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	21,844	(26,331)	(18,245)	(24,308)
Net income (loss)	21,844	(26,331)	(18,245)	(24,308)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	21,844	(26,331)	(18,245)	(24,308)
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	21,844	(26,331)	(18,245)	(24,308)
Investment income (loss)	8,056	17,057	10,172	96,462
Total revenues and other income	1,646,305	1,483,672	3,195,505	3,146,640
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	131,351	129,137	263,632	259,955
Intercompany interest expense	3	32	(59)	61
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	16,246	9,129	17,647	61,853
Total costs and other deductions	1,493,003	1,404,652	2,965,028	2,883,687
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	153,302	79,020	230,477	262,953
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	122,798	48,588	166,815	196,832
Net income (loss)	121,766	20,584	167,298	170,874
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	121,513	14,968	166,472	165,161
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(142,221)	13,636	(145,955)	(138,580)
Investment income (loss)	(1,136)	(2,273)	(2,272)	(2,273)
Intercompany interest income		(32)		(61)
Total revenues and other income	(143,357)	11,331	(148,227)	(140,914)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	(129)	(136)	(278)	(280)
Intercompany interest expense		(32)		(61)
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	129	136	278	280
Total costs and other deductions		(32)		(61)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	(143,357)	11,363	(148,227)	(140,853)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(143,357)	11,363	(148,227)	(140,853)
Net income (loss)	(143,357)	11,363	(148,227)	(140,853)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (143,357)	$ 11,363	$ (148,227)	$ (140,853)