Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ 106,048	$ (105,381)	$ 220,411	$ (10,621)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(41,713)	15,716	(46,052)	(36,853)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(15,054)	(3,416)	(34,587)	1,586
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	267	(2)	(4,636)	(88,159)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(14,787)	(3,418)	(39,223)	(86,573)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	123	280	369	842
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153	459	459
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(56,224)	12,731	(84,447)	(122,125)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	107	116	(529)	(2,161)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(56,331)	12,615	(83,918)	(119,964)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	49,717	(92,766)	136,493	(130,585)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	387	441	1,213	6,154
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	522	(229)	624	572
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	135	(670)	(589)	(5,582)
Comprehensive income (loss)	49,582	(92,096)	137,082	(125,003)
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	106,048		220,411
Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	31,859		13,614
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	185,586		352,058
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	387	441	1,213	6,154
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	106,048	(105,381)	220,411	(10,621)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(41,713)	15,716	(46,052)	(36,853)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(15,054)	(3,416)	(34,587)	1,586
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	267	(2)	(4,636)	(88,159)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(14,787)	(3,418)	(39,223)	(86,573)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	123	280	369	842
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153	459	459
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(56,224)	12,731	(84,447)	(122,125)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	107	116	(529)	(2,161)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(56,331)	12,615	(83,918)	(119,964)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	49,717	(92,766)	136,493	(130,585)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest		441		6,154
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest		(229)		572
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest		(670)		(5,582)
Comprehensive income (loss)	49,717	(92,096)	136,493	(125,003)
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	31,859	(82,783)	13,614	(107,091)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(33)	331	1,688	185
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(87)	(135)	156	98
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	(1,889)		(2,395)	(7,114)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(1,976)	(135)	(2,239)	(7,016)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	123	280	369	842
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153	459	459
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(1,733)	629	277	(5,530)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	107	116	(529)	(2,161)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(1,840)	513	806	(3,369)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	30,019	(82,270)	14,420	(110,460)
Comprehensive income (loss)	30,019	(82,270)	14,420	(110,460)
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	185,586	(12,446)	352,058	152,715
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(41,707)	16,046	(46,062)	(36,669)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(15,141)	(3,551)	(34,431)	1,684
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	(1,622)	(2)	(7,031)	(95,273)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(16,763)	(3,553)	(41,462)	(93,589)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	246	560	738	1,684
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153	459	459
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(58,071)	13,206	(86,327)	(128,115)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	390	173	(1,237)	(4,499)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(58,461)	13,033	(85,090)	(123,616)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	127,125	587	266,968	29,099
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	387	441	1,213	6,154
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	522	(229)	624	572
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	135	(670)	(589)	(5,582)
Comprehensive income (loss)	126,990	1,257	267,557	34,681
Consolidating Adjustments
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(217,445)	95,229	(365,672)	(45,624)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	41,740	(16,377)	44,374	36,484
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	15,228	3,686	34,275	(1,782)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities	3,511	2	9,426	102,387
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	18,739	3,688	43,701	100,605
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	(369)	(840)	(1,107)	(2,526)
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	(306)	(306)	(918)	(918)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	59,804	(13,835)	86,050	133,645
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(497)	(289)	1,766	6,660
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	60,301	(13,546)	84,284	126,985
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(157,144)	81,683	(281,388)	81,361
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest		(441)		(6,154)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest		229		(572)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest		670		5,582
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ (157,144)	$ 81,013	$ (281,388)	$ 75,779