Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	$ 1,244,344	$ 974,715
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments	(319)
Sales and maturities of investments	23,580	163,944
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net	(10,200)	(37,516)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(2,061)	(5,967)
Capital expenditures	(1,344,222)	(780,711)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	129,825	139,254
Proceeds from sales of unconsolidated affiliates		10,000
Other	(3,931)	(7)
Net cash used for investing activities	(1,207,328)	(511,003)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	(3,867)	(7,497)
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares	30,240	4,375
Purchase of treasury stock	(250,037)
Dividends paid to shareholders	(41,781)	(35,357)
Proceeds from (payments for) commercial paper, net	441,530	332,250
Debt issuance costs		(3,505)
Proceeds from debt	15,000	710,086
Reduction in revolving credit facilities	(70,000)	(590,000)
Reduction in long-term debt	(40,098)	(994,181)
Repayments of Short-term Debt	10,000
Redemption of subsidiary Preferred Shares	(70,875)
Other	(7,581)	(3,096)
Net cash used for financing activities	(7,469)	(586,925)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(15,009)	(5,786)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	14,538	(128,999)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	389,915	524,922
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	404,453	395,923
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares	30,240	4,375
Proceeds from issuance of intercompany debt	35,000
Paydown of intercompany debt	(19,000)
Other		(3,096)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,693	155
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	730	1,639
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	2,423	1,794
Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Changes in intercompany balances	(355,792)	615,328
Net cash used for investing activities	(355,792)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from (payments for) commercial paper, net	441,530	332,250
Debt issuance costs		(3,505)
Proceeds from debt		698,517
Reduction in revolving credit facilities		(590,000)
Reduction in long-term debt	(70,000)	(994,112)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(7,022)	(99,760)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	7,029	106,778
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	7	7,018
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments	(319)
Sales and maturities of investments	23,580	163,944
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net	(10,200)	(37,516)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(2,061)	(5,967)
Capital expenditures	(1,344,222)	(780,711)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	129,825	139,254
Proceeds from sales of unconsolidated affiliates		10,000
Other	(3,931)	(7)
Changes in intercompany balances	355,792	(615,328)
Net cash used for investing activities	(851,536)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	(3,867)	(7,497)
Purchase of treasury stock	(250,037)
Proceeds from issuance of intercompany debt	(35,000)
Paydown of intercompany debt	19,000
Proceeds from debt	15,000	11,569
Reduction in long-term debt	(40,098)	(69)
Repayments of Short-term Debt	10,000
Redemption of subsidiary Preferred Shares	(70,875)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(15,009)	(5,786)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	19,867	(29,394)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	382,156	416,505
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	402,023	387,111
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	(7,632)	5,671
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates		(100)
Net cash used for investing activities		(100)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid to shareholders	(45,758)	(38,767)
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of parent common shares to affiliates	16,424	32,072
Net cash used for financing activities	9,325	(5,416)
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	(22,760)	(158,238)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates		(772,000)
Net cash used for investing activities		(156,672)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from parent contributions		772,000
Net cash used for financing activities	371,530	215,150
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	1,262,289	1,098,620
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates		(1,544,000)
Net cash used for investing activities		(2,670,331)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from parent contributions		1,544,100
Net cash used for financing activities	(375,877)	1,548,103
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	12,447	28,662
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates		2,316,100
Net cash used for investing activities		2,316,100
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid to shareholders	3,977	3,410
Proceeds from parent contributions		(2,316,100)
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of parent common shares to affiliates	(16,424)	(32,072)
Net cash used for financing activities	$ (12,447)	$ (2,344,762)