Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues	$ 847,553	$ 1,813,762		$ 3,125,565	$ 5,020,361
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates	(35,100)	(2,851)		(29,714)	(5,872)
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:	812,453	1,810,911		3,095,851	5,014,489
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	7,524	203,377		170,952	445,878
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(35,100)	(2,851)		(29,714)	(5,872)
Interest expense	44,448	43,138		135,518	134,251
Investment income (loss)	(22)	2,189		2,128	10,235
Gains (losses) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other income (expense), net	(259,731)	1,513		(205,227)	(16,467)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	(331,777)	163,941		(203,565)	305,395
Tax expense (benefit)	80,898	(61,511)		35,158	(86,275)
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend					1,984
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(250,879)	102,430		(168,407)	217,136
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(45,275)	4,005		(41,067)	4,488
Net income (loss)	(296,154)	106,435		(209,474)	221,624
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	320	(387)		453	(1,213)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(295,834)	106,048		(209,021)	220,411
ASSETS
Total assets	9,929,181			9,929,181		$ 11,879,942
CJES
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates	(35,100)		$ (35,900)	(35,900)
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(35,100)		$ (35,900)	$ (35,900)
ASSETS
Lag in recording share in net income				3 months
Operating segment | Subtotal drilling and Rig Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues	879,569	1,271,222		$ 2,876,201	3,556,108
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates		(2,900)		5,900	(6,100)
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	45,486	218,317		351,653	523,662
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments		(2,900)		5,900	(6,100)
ASSETS
Total assets	8,981,047			8,981,047		9,164,796
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	259,939	571,736		1,034,929	1,615,106
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(14,034)	117,212		94,449	279,683
ASSETS
Total assets	3,782,339			3,782,339		4,184,854
Operating segment | Subtotal drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | Canada
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues	29,929	80,491		109,182	246,973
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(4,085)	11,517		(5,995)	37,902
ASSETS
Total assets	406,014			406,014		615,269
Operating segment | Subtotal drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | International
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues	516,180	427,558		1,413,886	1,191,520
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	74,039	68,452		262,335	167,154
ASSETS
Total assets	4,319,955			4,319,955		3,815,051
Operating segment | Subtotal drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | Rig Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues	73,521	191,437		318,204	502,509
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(10,434)	21,136		864	38,923
ASSETS
Total assets	472,739			472,739		549,622
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues		611,881		366,372	1,649,970
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates				300	200
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities		35,393		(58,539)	61,657
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments				300	200
ASSETS
Total assets						1,933,387
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		352,018		207,860	856,329
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities		14,211		(55,243)	(20,005)
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services | Reportable subsegments | Production Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues		259,863		158,512	793,641
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities		21,182		(3,296)	81,662
Other reconciling items
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Operating revenues	(32,016)	(69,341)		(117,008)	(185,717)
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities	(37,962)	$ (50,333)		(122,162)	$ (139,441)
ASSETS
Total assets	488,502			488,502		$ 781,759
All other
ASSETS
Total assets	459,632			459,632
All other | CJES
ASSETS
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	$ 460,500			$ 460,500