Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) item	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	$ 862,189	$ 1,616,405	$ 2,283,398	$ 3,203,578
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	69,981	133,460	163,428	242,501
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(1,116)	(576)	5,386	(3,021)
Interest expense	44,469	46,303	91,070	91,113
Investment income (loss)	1,181	7,066	2,150	8,046
Gains (losses) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other income (expense), net	(1,338)	(16,504)	54,504	(17,980)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	24,555	77,719	128,212	141,454
Income tax expense (benefit)	66,445	10,756	45,740	24,764
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend		1,234		1,984
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(41,890)	65,729	82,472	114,706
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	5,025	(1,032)	4,208	483
Net income (loss)	(36,865)	64,697	86,680	115,189
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	44	(253)	133	(826)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(36,821)	64,444	86,813	114,363
ASSETS
Total assets	10,517,283		10,517,283			$ 11,879,942
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net			(3,809)	(3,021)
CJES
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	(800)		(800)
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(800)		(800)
ASSETS
Total assets	675,323		$ 675,323
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method					$ 675,300
Subtotal drilling and Rig Services
ASSETS
Number of operating segments | item			4
Operating segment | Subtotal drilling and Rig Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	901,410	1,140,746	$ 2,002,555	2,281,638
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	104,857	149,844	306,167	305,345
ASSETS
Total assets	9,212,858		9,212,858			9,164,796
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net	(300)	(800)	5,900	(3,300)
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	900		900			48,100
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:	321,169	532,894	774,990	1,043,370
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	31,445	89,977	108,483	162,471
ASSETS
Total assets	4,057,553		4,057,553			4,184,854
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:	21,413	54,861	79,253	166,482
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(8,268)	225	(1,910)	26,385
ASSETS
Total assets	453,253		453,253			615,269
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:	458,229	391,251	903,629	766,320
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	83,255	50,583	188,296	98,702
ASSETS
Total assets	4,218,373		4,218,373			3,815,051
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:	100,599	161,740	244,683	305,466
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(1,575)	9,059	11,298	17,787
ASSETS
Total assets	483,679		483,679			549,622
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:		535,017	366,635	1,038,316
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities		29,308	(58,539)	26,264
ASSETS
Total assets						1,933,387
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net		200	300	300
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method						10,200
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:		276,639	208,123	504,538
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities		(581)	(55,243)	(34,216)
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:		258,378	158,512	533,778
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities		29,889	(3,296)	60,480
Other reconciling items
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	(38,421)	(59,358)	(84,992)	(116,376)
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(34,876)	$ (45,692)	(84,200)	$ (89,108)
ASSETS
Total assets	629,102		629,102			$ 781,759
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	$ 675,300		$ 675,300