Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Self-Insurance disclosures
Employer's liability claims subject to per-occurrence deductible	$ 3.0
Workers automobile claims	2.5nbr_AutomobileClaimsDeductible
General liability claims subject to per-occurrence deductible	5.0
Deductions in land rigs and for offshore rigs	5.0
Mexico \| Minimum
Income tax
Aggregate remaining amounts assessed or expected to assessed range	30
Mexico \| Maximum
Income tax
Aggregate remaining amounts assessed or expected to assessed range	$ 35

Represents the amount of per-occurrence deductible which the entity has on its automobile insurance claims.

No definition available.

Name:	nbr_AutomobileClaimsDeductible
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amount of deductions in land rigs and for offshore rigs.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_DeductionsInLandRigsAndForOffshoreRigs
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amount of employer's liability claims subject to per-occurrence deductible.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_EmployersLiabilityClaimsSubjectToPerOccurrenceDeductible
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amount of general liability claims subject to per-occurrence deductible.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_GeneralLiabilityClaimsSubjectToPerOccurrenceDeductible
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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- Definition

Estimated amount of loss resulting from an adverse tax position.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph (d)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationLineItems
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Balance Type:	na
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- Details

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