Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities		$ 846,037	$ 665,408
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments		(266)
Sales and maturities of investments		23,238	163,161
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net		(10,200)	(37,516)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates		(1,612)	(3,927)
Capital expenditures		(862,680)	(500,368)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims		69,343	29,731
Proceeds from sale of unconsolidated affiliates			10,000
Other		(761)	(3,142)
Net cash used for investing activities		(782,938)	(342,061)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts		(3,383)	(8,686)
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares		29,047	3,200
Dividends to shareholders	(11,900)	(23,792)	(23,552)
Proceeds from (payments for) commercial paper, net		111,228	295,000
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities		15,000
Debt issuance costs			(87)
Proceeds from debt		15,000	11,569
Reduction in revolving credit facilities			(590,000)
Reduction in long-term debt		(75,000)	(17,853)
Reduction in short-term debt		(10,000)
Redemption of subsidiary Preferred Shares	(70,900)	(70,875)
Other		(7,303)	(3,023)
Net cash used for financing activities		(35,078)	(333,432)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(6,978)	(6,709)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		21,043	(16,794)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		389,915	524,922
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	410,958	410,958	508,128
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares		29,048	3,200
Other		(7,304)	(3,023)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		376	1,870
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		730	1,639
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,106	1,106	3,509
Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Changes in intercompany balances		4,182	348,367
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from (payments for) commercial paper, net		111,228	295,000
Debt issuance costs			(87)
Reduction in revolving credit facilities			(590,000)
Reduction in long-term debt		(60,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(7,025)	(94,000)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		7,029	106,778
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	4	4	12,778
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments		(266)
Sales and maturities of investments		23,238	163,161
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net		(10,200)	(37,516)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates		(1,612)	(3,927)
Capital expenditures		(862,680)	(500,368)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims		69,343	29,731
Proceeds from sale of unconsolidated affiliates			10,000
Other		(761)	(3,142)
Changes in intercompany balances		(4,182)	(348,367)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts		(3,382)	(8,686)
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares		(1)
Proceeds from debt		15,000	11,569
Reduction in long-term debt		(15,000)	(17,853)
Reduction in short-term debt		(10,000)
Redemption of subsidiary Preferred Shares		(70,875)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(6,978)	(6,709)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		27,692	75,336
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		382,156	416,505
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	409,848	409,848	491,841
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities		(11,728)	(4,554)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends to shareholders		(26,064)	(25,825)
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of parent common shares to affiliates		16,424	32,072
Net cash used for financing activities		12,104	6,424
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities		(62,435)	(147,280)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates			(626,000)
Net cash used for investing activities		4,182	(277,633)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from parent contributions			626,000
Net cash used for financing activities		51,228	330,913
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities		906,048	787,443
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates			(1,252,000)
Net cash used for investing activities		(787,120)	(1,942,428)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from parent contributions			1,252,000
Net cash used for financing activities		(84,258)	1,237,030
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities		14,152	29,799
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates			1,878,000
Net cash used for investing activities			1,878,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends to shareholders		2,272	2,273
Proceeds from parent contributions			(1,878,000)
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of parent common shares to affiliates		(16,424)	(32,072)
Net cash used for financing activities		$ (14,152)	$ (1,907,799)