Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	$ 863,305	$ 1,616,981	$ 2,278,012	$ 3,206,599
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates	(1,116)	(576)	5,386	(3,021)
Investment income (loss)	1,181	7,066	2,150	8,046
Total revenues and other income	863,370	1,623,471	2,285,548	3,211,624
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	488,522	1,066,495	1,408,132	2,128,234
General and administrative expenses	86,290	133,630	213,423	267,896
Depreciation and amortization	218,196	282,820	499,215	564,947
Interest expense	44,469	46,303	91,070	91,113
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	1,338	16,504	(54,504)	17,980
Total costs and other deductions	838,815	1,545,752	2,157,336	3,070,170
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
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Costs and other deductions:
Interest expense	(1)		(1)
Intercompany interest expense		(3)		59
Total costs and other deductions		2,565		5,229
Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Costs and other deductions:
Depreciation and amortization	31	902	643	1,804
Interest expense	49,713	49,313	101,977	98,682
Total costs and other deductions		50,184		99,913
Income tax expense (benefit)	(17,139)	(18,514)	(35,931)	(36,914)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	863,305	1,616,981	2,278,012	3,206,599
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates	(1,116)	(576)	5,386	(3,021)
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	488,522	1,066,495	1,408,132	2,128,234
Depreciation and amortization	218,165	281,918	498,572	563,143
Interest expense	(5,243)	(3,010)	(10,906)	(7,569)
Intercompany interest expense		3		(59)
Total costs and other deductions		1,493,003		2,965,028
Income tax expense (benefit)	83,584	29,270	81,671	61,678
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend		1,234		1,984
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	5,025	(1,032)	4,208	483
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	44	(253)	133	(826)
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(34,151)	67,009	103,886	119,592
Total revenues and other income	(34,151)	67,009	103,886	119,592
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	2,112	2,439	4,831	4,892
Intercompany interest expense	24		24
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	535	129	12,219	278
Total costs and other deductions	2,670		17,073
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	(36,821)	64,444	86,813	114,363
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(36,821)	64,444	86,813	114,363
Net income (loss)	(36,821)	64,444	86,813	114,363
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(36,821)	64,444	86,813	114,363
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	53,933	53,368	7,493	44,608
Investment income (loss)	555	146	560	146
Intercompany interest income	2,187		4,626
Total revenues and other income	56,675	53,514	12,679	44,754
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	(681)	(31)	(323)	(350)
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net				(223)
Total costs and other deductions	49,063		102,297
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	7,612	3,330	(89,618)	(55,159)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	24,751	21,844	(53,687)	(18,245)
Net income (loss)	24,751	21,844	(53,687)	(18,245)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	24,751	21,844	(53,687)	(18,245)
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	24,751	21,844	(53,687)	(18,245)
Investment income (loss)	2,953	8,056	6,244	10,172
Total revenues and other income	889,893	1,646,305	2,235,955	3,195,505
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	84,999	131,351	209,199	263,632
Intercompany interest expense	2,163		4,602
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	663	16,246	(67,007)	17,647
Total costs and other deductions	789,269		2,042,592
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	100,624	153,302	193,363	230,477
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	17,040	122,798	111,692	166,815
Net income (loss)	22,065	121,766	115,900	167,298
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	22,109	121,513	116,033	166,472
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(44,533)	(142,221)	(57,692)	(145,955)
Investment income (loss)	(2,327)	(1,136)	(4,654)	(2,272)
Intercompany interest income	(2,187)		(4,626)
Total revenues and other income	(49,047)	(143,357)	(66,972)	(148,227)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	(140)	(129)	(284)	(278)
Intercompany interest expense	(2,187)		(4,626)
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	140	129	284	278
Total costs and other deductions	(2,187)		(4,626)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	(46,860)	(143,357)	(62,346)	(148,227)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(46,860)	(143,357)	(62,346)	(148,227)
Net income (loss)	(46,860)	(143,357)	(62,346)	(148,227)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (46,860)	$ (143,357)	$ (62,346)	$ (148,227)