Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 251,366	$ 501,149	$ 404,453	$ 389,915
Short-term investments	25,196	35,020
Assets held for sale	78,400	146,467
Accounts receivable, net	871,385	1,517,503
Inventory	177,221	230,067
Deferred income taxes	39,981	118,230
Other current assets	275,526	193,438
Total current assets	1,719,075	2,741,874
Long-term investments	2,455	2,806
Property, plant and equipment, net	7,287,531	8,599,125
Goodwill	150,032	173,928
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	460,543	58,251
Other long-term assets	309,545	303,958
Total assets	9,929,181	11,879,942
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	8,982	6,190
Trade accounts payable	302,415	780,060
Accrued liabilities	730,809	728,004
Income taxes payable	7,345	53,221
Total current liabilities	1,049,551	1,567,475
Long-term debt	3,737,773	4,348,859
Other long-term liabilities	630,458	601,816
Deferred income taxes		443,003
Total liabilities	5,417,782	6,961,153
Shareholders' equity	4,502,313	4,908,619
Noncontrolling interest	9,086	10,170
Total equity	4,511,399	4,918,789	5,873,234	5,981,177
Total liabilities and equity	9,929,181	11,879,942
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	820	1,170	2,423	730
Other current assets	57	50
Total current assets	877	1,220
Intercompany receivables	132,398	136,360
Investment in consolidated affiliates	4,389,414	4,771,413
Total assets	4,522,689	4,908,993
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	66	111
Accrued liabilities	309	263
Total current liabilities	375	374
Intercompany payable	20,000
Total liabilities	20,375	374
Shareholders' equity	4,502,314	4,908,619
Total equity	4,502,314	4,908,619
Total liabilities and equity	4,522,689	4,908,993
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	12	7	7	7,029
Other current assets	13,841	5,242
Short-term intercompany note		880,820
Total current assets	13,853	886,069
Property, plant and equipment, net		30,330
Intercompany receivables	62,000
Investment in consolidated affiliates	4,974,982	5,014,743
Deferred tax assets	348,575	294,655
Other long-term assets	31,483	30,298
Total assets	5,430,893	6,256,095
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	2	2
Accrued liabilities	18,139	64,390
Total current liabilities	18,141	64,392
Long-term debt	3,778,232	4,389,299
Other long-term liabilities	35,411	35,480
Intercompany payable	1,386,359	1,422,882
Total liabilities	5,218,143	5,912,053
Shareholders' equity	212,750	344,042
Total equity	212,750	344,042
Total liabilities and equity	5,430,893	6,256,095
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	250,534	499,972	$ 402,023	$ 382,156
Short-term investments	25,196	35,020
Assets held for sale	78,400	146,467
Accounts receivable, net	871,385	1,517,503
Inventory	177,221	230,067
Deferred income taxes	39,981	118,230
Other current assets	261,628	188,146
Total current assets	1,704,345	2,735,405
Long-term investments	42,914	43,246
Property, plant and equipment, net	7,287,531	8,568,795
Goodwill	150,032	173,928
Intercompany receivables	1,211,961	1,286,522
Investment in consolidated affiliates	1,316,849	1,448,688
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	460,543	58,251
Other long-term assets	278,062	273,660
Total assets	12,452,237	14,588,495
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	8,982	6,190
Trade accounts payable	302,347	779,947
Accrued liabilities	712,361	663,351
Income taxes payable	7,345	53,221
Short-term intercompany note		880,820
Total current liabilities	1,031,035	2,383,529
Other long-term liabilities	595,047	566,336
Deferred income taxes	348,575	737,658
Total liabilities	1,974,657	3,687,523
Shareholders' equity	10,468,494	10,890,802
Noncontrolling interest	9,086	10,170
Total equity	10,477,580	10,900,972
Total liabilities and equity	12,452,237	14,588,495
Consolidating Adjustments
Current assets:
Short-term intercompany note		(880,820)
Total current assets		(880,820)
Long-term investments	(40,459)	(40,440)
Intercompany receivables	(1,406,359)	(1,422,882)
Investment in consolidated affiliates	(10,681,245)	(11,234,844)
Deferred tax assets	(348,575)	(294,655)
Total assets	(12,476,638)	(13,873,641)
Current liabilities:
Short-term intercompany note		(880,820)
Total current liabilities		(880,820)
Long-term debt	(40,459)	(40,440)
Deferred income taxes	(348,575)	(294,655)
Intercompany payable	(1,406,359)	(1,422,882)
Total liabilities	(1,795,393)	(2,638,797)
Shareholders' equity	(10,681,245)	(11,234,844)
Total equity	(10,681,245)	(11,234,844)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (12,476,638)	$ (13,873,641)