Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 4) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 27, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities		$ 517,404	$ 846,037
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments		(8)	(266)
Sales and maturities of investments		745	23,238
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net		(57,909)	(10,200)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates		(445)	(1,612)
Proceeds from merger transaction		660,050
Capital expenditures		(566,672)	(862,680)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims		24,790	69,343
Other		1,809	(761)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities		62,360	(782,938)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts		310	(3,383)
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares		1,198	29,047
Dividends to shareholders		(34,980)	(23,792)
Proceeds from short-term borrowings		60,169
Proceeds from (payments for) commercial paper, net		(208,467)	111,228
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities			15,000
Reduction in revolving credit facilities		(450,000)	(75,000)
Purchase of preferred stock			(70,875)
Proceeds from term loan facility		300,000
Payments on term loan facility	$ (300,000)	(300,000)
Payments on term loan	$ (300,000)	(300,000)
Reduction in short-term debt			(10,000)
Other		(7,426)	(7,303)
Net cash used for financing activities		(639,196)	(35,078)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(5,042)	(6,978)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(64,474)	21,043
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		501,149	389,915	$ 389,915
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		436,675	410,958	501,149
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from merger transaction		5,500
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities		5,500
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares		1,198	29,048
Proceeds from issuance of intercompany debt		27,000
Paydown of intercompany debt		(27,000)
Other		(7,426)	(7,303)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		266	377
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		1,170	730	730
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		1,436	1,107	1,170
Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from merger transaction		646,078
Changes in intercompany balances		45,063	4,182
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities		691,141	4,182
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from (payments for) commercial paper, net		(208,467)	111,228
Reduction in revolving credit facilities		(450,000)	(60,000)
Proceeds from term loan facility		300,000
Payments on term loan facility		(300,000)
Payments on term loan		(300,000)
Proceeds from issuance of intercompany debt		88,058
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		3	(7,025)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		7	7,029	7,029
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		10	4	7
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments		(8)	(266)
Sales and maturities of investments		745	23,238
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net		(57,909)	(10,200)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates		(445)	(1,612)
Proceeds from merger transaction		8,472
Capital expenditures		(566,672)	(862,680)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims		24,790	69,343
Other		1,809	(761)
Changes in intercompany balances		(45,063)	(4,182)
Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities		(634,281)	(787,120)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts		310	(3,383)
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of common shares			(1)
Proceeds from short-term borrowings		60,169
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities			15,000
Reduction in revolving credit facilities			(15,000)
Purchase of preferred stock			(70,875)
Reduction in short-term debt			(10,000)
Proceeds from issuance of intercompany debt		(115,058)
Paydown of intercompany debt		27,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		(5,042)	(6,978)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(64,743)	27,691
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		499,972	382,156	382,156
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		435,229	409,847	$ 499,972
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities		40,628	(11,728)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends to shareholders		(39,634)	(26,064)
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of parent common shares to affiliates			16,424
Net cash used for financing activities		(45,862)	12,105
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities		(120,729)	(62,435)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net cash used for financing activities		(570,409)	51,228
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities		623,481	906,048
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on parent (Equity or N/P)		(21,322)
Net cash used for financing activities		(48,901)	(84,259)
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities		(25,976)	14,152
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends to shareholders		4,654	2,272
Proceeds from (payments for) issuance of parent common shares to affiliates			(16,424)
Payments on parent (Equity or N/P)		(21,322)
Net cash used for financing activities		$ 25,976	$ (14,152)