Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (36,821)	$ 64,444	$ 86,813	$ 114,363
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized gains (losses) on translation adjustment	12,273		(56,266)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment			5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	12,273	32,255	(50,901)	(4,339)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(2,153)	(325)	(2,000)	(19,533)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities		(4,903)		(4,903)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(2,153)	(5,228)	(2,000)	(24,436)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	276	123	552	246
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153	306	306
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	10,549	27,303	(52,043)	(28,223)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	161	(784)	323	(636)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	10,388	28,087	(52,366)	(27,587)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(26,433)	92,531	34,447	86,776
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(44)	253	(133)	826
Translation adjustment to noncontrolling interest	162	379	(718)	(102)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	118	632	(851)	724
Comprehensive income (loss)	(26,315)	93,163	33,596	87,500
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities			(2,000)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities			(2,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(44)	253	(133)	826
Translation adjustment to noncontrolling interest	162	379	(718)	(102)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	118	632	(851)	724
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(36,821)	64,444	86,813	114,363
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized gains (losses) on translation adjustment	12,273		(56,266)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment			5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	12,273	32,255	(50,901)	(4,339)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(2,153)	(325)		(19,533)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities		(4,903)		(4,903)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(2,153)	(5,228)	(2,000)	(24,436)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	276	123	552	246
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153	306	306
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	10,549	27,303	(52,043)	(28,223)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	161	(784)	323	(636)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	10,388	28,087	(52,366)	(27,587)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(26,433)	92,531	34,447	86,776
Comprehensive income (loss)	(26,433)	92,531	34,447	86,776
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	24,751	21,844	(53,687)	(18,245)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized gains (losses) on translation adjustment			51
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors		1,937	51	1,721
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities		243		243
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities		(506)		(506)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities		(263)		(263)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	276	123	552	246
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153	306	306
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	429	1,950	909	2,010
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	161	(784)	323	(636)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	268	2,734	586	2,646
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	25,019	24,578	(53,101)	(15,599)
Comprehensive income (loss)	25,019	24,578	(53,101)	(15,599)
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	22,109	121,513	116,033	166,472
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized gains (losses) on translation adjustment	12,273		(56,215)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment			5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	12,273	32,458	(50,850)	(4,355)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(2,153)	(82)		(19,290)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities		(5,409)		(5,409)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(2,153)	(5,491)	(2,000)	(24,699)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	552	246	1,104	492
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153	306	306
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	10,825	27,366	(51,440)	(28,256)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	263	(1,863)	527	(1,627)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	10,562	29,229	(51,967)	(26,629)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	32,671	150,742	64,066	139,843
Comprehensive income (loss)	32,789	151,374	63,215	140,567
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(46,860)	(143,357)	(62,346)	(148,227)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized gains (losses) on translation adjustment	(12,273)		56,164
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment			(5,365)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(12,273)	(34,395)	50,799	2,634
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	2,153	(161)	2,000	19,047
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities		5,915		5,915
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	2,153	5,754	2,000	24,962
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	(828)	(369)	(1,656)	(738)
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	(306)	(306)	(612)	(612)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(11,254)	(29,316)	50,531	26,246
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(424)	2,647	(850)	2,263
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(10,830)	(31,963)	51,381	23,983
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(57,690)	(175,320)	(10,965)	(124,244)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ (57,690)	$ (175,320)	$ (10,965)	$ (124,244)