Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ 64,444	$ (4,361)	$ 114,363	$ 94,760
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	32,255	(29,304)	(4,339)	(52,569)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(325)	(5,137)	(19,533)	5,002
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	(4,903)	(12,183)	(4,903)	(88,157)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(5,228)	(17,320)	(24,436)	(83,155)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	123	281	246	562
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153	306	306
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	27,303	(46,190)	(28,223)	(134,856)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(784)	(2,063)	(636)	(2,277)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	28,087	(44,127)	(27,587)	(132,579)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	92,531	(48,488)	86,776	(37,819)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	253	5,616	826	5,713
Translation adjustment to noncontrolling interest	(379)	(613)	102	801
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(632)	(6,229)	(724)	(4,912)
Comprehensive income (loss)	93,163	(42,259)	87,500	(32,907)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	253	5,616	826	5,713
Translation adjustment to noncontrolling interest	(379)	(613)	102	801
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(632)	(6,229)	(724)	(4,912)
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	64,444	(4,361)	114,363	94,760
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	32,255	(29,304)	(4,339)	(52,569)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(325)	(5,137)	(19,533)	5,002
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	(4,903)	(12,183)	(4,903)	(88,157)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(5,228)	(17,320)	(24,436)	(83,155)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	123	281	246	562
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153	306	306
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	27,303	(46,190)	(28,223)	(134,856)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(784)	(2,063)	(636)	(2,277)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	28,087	(44,127)	(27,587)	(132,579)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	92,531	(48,488)	86,776	(37,819)
Comprehensive income (loss)	92,531	(48,488)	86,776	(37,819)
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	21,844	(26,331)	(18,245)	(24,308)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	1,937	(94)	1,721	(146)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	243	48	243	233
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	(506)	(5,928)	(506)	(7,114)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(263)	(5,880)	(263)	(6,881)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	123	281	246	562
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153	306	306
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	1,950	(5,540)	2,010	(6,159)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(784)	(2,063)	(636)	(2,277)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	2,734	(3,477)	2,646	(3,882)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	24,578	(29,808)	(15,599)	(28,190)
Comprehensive income (loss)	24,578	(29,808)	(15,599)	(28,190)
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	121,513	14,968	166,472	165,161
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	32,458	(29,398)	(4,355)	(52,715)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(82)	(5,089)	(19,290)	5,235
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	(5,409)	(18,111)	(5,409)	(95,271)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(5,491)	(23,200)	(24,699)	(90,036)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	246	562	492	1,124
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153	306	306
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	27,366	(51,883)	(28,256)	(141,321)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,863)	(4,185)	(1,627)	(4,672)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	29,229	(47,698)	(26,629)	(136,649)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	150,742	(32,730)	139,843	28,512
Comprehensive income (loss)	151,374	(26,501)	140,567	33,424
Consolidating Adjustments
Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(143,357)	11,363	(148,227)	(140,853)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before taxes:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(34,395)	29,492	2,634	52,861
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(161)	5,041	19,047	(5,468)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	5,915	24,039	5,915	102,385
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	5,754	29,080	24,962	96,917
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	(369)	(843)	(738)	(1,686)
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	(306)	(306)	(612)	(612)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(29,316)	57,423	26,246	147,480
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	2,647	6,248	2,263	6,949
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(31,963)	51,175	23,983	140,531
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(175,320)	62,538	(124,244)	(322)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ (175,320)	$ 62,538	$ (124,244)	$ (322)