Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ 123,634	$ 49,919
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	(68,539)	(36,594)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment	5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(63,174)	(36,594)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities		(19,208)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	153	(19,208)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	276	123
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(62,592)	(55,526)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	162	148
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(62,754)	(55,674)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	60,880	(5,755)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(89)	573
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	880	481
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(969)	92
Comprehensive income (loss)	59,911	(5,663)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(89)	573
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest		481
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest		92
Reportable Legal Entities
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	123,634
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	(68,539)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment	5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(63,174)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	153
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	276
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(62,592)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	162
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(62,754)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	60,880
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(89)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	880
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(969)
Comprehensive income (loss)	59,911
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	123,634	49,919
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	(68,539)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment	5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(63,174)	(36,594)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities		(19,208)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	153	(19,208)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	276	123
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(62,592)	(55,526)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	162	148
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(62,754)	(55,674)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	60,880	(5,755)
Comprehensive income (loss)	60,880	(5,755)
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(78,438)	(40,089)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	51
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	51	(216)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	276	123
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	480	60
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	162	148
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	318	(88)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(78,120)	(40,177)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(78,120)	(40,177)
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	93,924	44,959
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	(68,488)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment	5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(63,123)	(36,813)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities		(19,208)
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	153	(19,208)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	552	246
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(62,265)	(55,622)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	264	236
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(62,529)	(55,858)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	31,395	(10,899)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(89)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	880
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(969)
Comprehensive income (loss)	30,426	(10,807)
Consolidating Adjustments
Statements of Other Comprehensive Income
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(15,486)	(4,870)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	68,437
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment	(5,365)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	63,072	37,029
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities		19,208
Unrealized gains/(losses) on marketable securities	(153)	19,208
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	(828)	(369)
Unrealized gains/(losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	(306)	(306)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	61,785	55,562
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(426)	(384)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	62,211	55,946
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	46,725	51,076
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 46,725	$ 51,076