Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	$ 1,414,707	$ 1,589,618
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	6,502	(2,445)
Investment income (loss)	969	980
Total revenues and other income	1,422,178	1,588,153
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	919,610	1,061,739
General and administrative expenses	127,133	134,266
Depreciation and amortization	281,019	282,127
Interest expense	46,601	44,810
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	(55,842)	1,476
Total costs and other deductions	1,318,521	1,524,418
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	103,657	63,735
Income tax expense (benefit)	(20,705)	14,008
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend		750
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	124,362	48,977
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(817)	1,515
Net income (loss)	123,545	50,492
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	89	(573)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	123,634	49,919
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Costs and other deductions:
Intercompany interest expense		62
Total costs and other deductions		2,664
Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Costs and other deductions:
Depreciation and amortization	612	902
Interest expense	52,264	49,369
Total costs and other deductions		49,729
Income tax expense (benefit)	(18,792)	(18,400)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	1,414,707	1,589,618
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates	6,502	(2,445)
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	919,610	1,061,739
Depreciation and amortization	280,407	281,225
Interest expense	(5,663)	(4,559)
Intercompany interest expense		(62)
Total costs and other deductions		1,472,025
Income tax expense (benefit)	(1,913)	32,408
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend		750
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(817)	1,515
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	89	(573)
Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Investment income (loss)	969
Total revenues and other income	1,422,178
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	127,133
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	(55,842)
Total costs and other deductions	1,318,521
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	103,657
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	124,362
Net income (loss)	123,545
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	89
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	123,634
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	138,037	52,583
Total revenues and other income	138,037	52,583
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	2,719	2,453
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	11,684	149
Total costs and other deductions	14,403
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	123,634	49,919
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	123,634	49,919
Net income (loss)	123,634	49,919
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	123,634	49,919
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(46,440)	(8,760)
Investment income (loss)	5
Intercompany interest income	2,439
Total revenues and other income	(43,996)	(8,760)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	358	(319)
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net		(223)
Total costs and other deductions	53,234
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	(97,230)	(58,489)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(78,438)	(40,089)
Net income (loss)	(78,438)	(40,089)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(78,438)	(40,089)
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(78,438)	(40,089)
Investment income (loss)	3,291	2,116
Total revenues and other income	1,346,062	1,549,200
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	124,200	132,281
Intercompany interest expense	2,439
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	(67,670)	1,401
Total costs and other deductions	1,253,323
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	92,739	77,175
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	94,652	44,017
Net income (loss)	93,835	45,532
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	89
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	93,924	44,959
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(13,159)	(3,734)
Investment income (loss)	(2,327)	(1,136)
Intercompany interest income	(2,439)
Total revenues and other income	(17,925)	(4,870)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	(144)	(149)
Intercompany interest expense	(2,439)
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	144	149
Total costs and other deductions	(2,439)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	(15,486)	(4,870)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(15,486)	(4,870)
Net income (loss)	(15,486)	(4,870)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (15,486)	$ (4,870)