Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	$ 1,810,911,000	$ 1,548,965,000	$ 5,014,489,000	$ 4,546,664,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	203,377,000	165,893,000	445,878,000	398,635,000
Interest expense	(43,138,000)	(56,059,000)	(134,251,000)	(176,343,000)
Investment income (loss)	2,189,000	1,229,000	10,235,000	95,471,000
Gains (losses) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other income (expense), net	1,513,000	(3,266,000)	(16,467,000)	(27,245,000)
Impairments and other charges	0	(242,241,000)	0	(287,241,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	163,941,000	(134,444,000)	305,395,000	3,277,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	61,511,000	(44,684,000)	86,275,000	(28,798,000)
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend		750,000	1,984,000	2,250,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	102,430,000	(90,510,000)	217,136,000	29,825,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	4,005,000	(14,430,000)	4,488,000	(34,292,000)
Net income (loss)	106,435,000	(104,940,000)	221,624,000	(4,467,000)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(387,000)	(441,000)	(1,213,000)	(6,154,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	106,048,000	(105,381,000)	220,411,000	(10,621,000)
ASSETS
Total assets	12,619,340,000		12,619,340,000		12,159,811,000
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net			(3,527,000)	1,263,000
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	1,268,362,000	1,088,117,000	3,550,000,000	3,156,963,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	218,317,000	161,582,000	523,662,000	393,257,000
ASSETS
Total assets	9,549,813,000		9,549,813,000		8,915,262,000
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net	2,900,000	2,900,000	6,100,000	1,000,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	50,800,000		50,800,000		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:	571,736,000	491,857,000	1,615,106,000	1,443,759,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	117,212,000	92,710,000	279,683,000	240,118,000
ASSETS
Total assets	4,438,876,000		4,438,876,000		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:	80,491,000	81,397,000	246,973,000	273,053,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	11,517,000	12,244,000	37,902,000	46,657,000
ASSETS
Total assets	599,979,000		599,979,000		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:	424,698,000	383,712,000	1,191,018,000	1,056,649,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	68,452,000	54,271,000	167,154,000	108,221,000
ASSETS
Total assets	3,988,285,000		3,988,285,000		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:	191,437,000	131,151,000	496,903,000	383,502,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	21,136,000	2,357,000	38,923,000	(1,739,000)
ASSETS
Total assets	522,673,000		522,673,000		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:	611,890,000	513,326,000	1,650,206,000	1,525,653,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	35,393,000	38,933,000	61,657,000	113,044,000
ASSETS
Total assets	2,326,016,000		2,326,016,000		2,394,865,000
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net	0	300,000	200,000	600,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	9,700,000		9,700,000		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:	352,027,000	266,520,000	856,565,000	782,674,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	14,211,000	13,024,000	(20,005,000)	37,650,000
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:	259,863,000	246,806,000	793,641,000	742,979,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	21,182,000	25,909,000	81,662,000	75,394,000
Other reconciling items
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	(69,341,000)	(52,478,000)	(185,717,000)	(135,952,000)
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(50,333,000)	(34,622,000)	(139,441,000)	(107,666,000)
ASSETS
Total assets	$ 743,511,000		$ 743,511,000		$ 849,684,000