Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	$ 1,421,209,000	$ 1,587,173,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	93,447,000	109,041,000
Interest expense	(46,601,000)	(44,810,000)
Investment income (loss)	969,000	980,000
Gains (losses) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other income (expense), net	55,842,000	(1,476,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	103,657,000	63,735,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	(20,705,000)	14,008,000
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend		750,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	124,362,000	48,977,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(817,000)	1,515,000
Net income (loss)	123,545,000	50,492,000
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	89,000	(573,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	123,634,000	49,919,000
ASSETS
Total assets	10,604,598,000		11,879,942,000
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net	5,737,000	(2,445,000)
Subtotal drilling and Rig Services
ASSETS
Number of operating segments	4
Operating segment | Subtotal drilling and Rig Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	1,101,145,000	1,140,892,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	201,310,000	155,501,000
ASSETS
Total assets	9,154,393,000		9,164,796,000
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net	6,200,000	(2,500,000)
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	54,400,000	48,100,000
Operating segment | Subtotal drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | U.S.
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	453,821,000	510,476,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	77,038,000	72,494,000
ASSETS
Total assets	4,146,988,000		4,184,854,000
Operating segment | Subtotal drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | Canada
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	57,840,000	111,621,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	6,358,000	26,160,000
ASSETS
Total assets	593,436,000		615,269,000
Operating segment | Subtotal drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | International
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	445,400,000	375,069,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	105,041,000	48,119,000
ASSETS
Total assets	3,901,424,000		3,815,051,000
Operating segment | Subtotal drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | Rig Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	144,084,000	143,726,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	12,873,000	8,728,000
ASSETS
Total assets	512,545,000		549,622,000
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	366,635,000	503,299,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(58,539,000)	(3,044,000)
ASSETS
Total assets			1,933,387,000
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net	300,000	100,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method		10,200,000
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:	208,123,000	227,899,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(55,243,000)	(33,635,000)
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:	158,512,000	275,400,000
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(3,296,000)	30,591,000
Other reconciling items
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	(46,571,000)	(57,018,000)
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(49,324,000)	(43,416,000)
ASSETS
Total assets	1,450,205,000		781,759,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	$ 676,100,000