Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Revenues and other income:
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)
Investment income (loss)	(22)	2,189	2,128	10,235
Total revenues and other income	812,431	1,813,100	3,097,979	5,024,724
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	518,174	1,181,986	1,926,306	3,310,220
General and administrative expenses	81,748	138,967	295,171	406,863
Depreciation and amortization	240,107	286,581	739,322	851,528
Interest expense	44,448	43,138	135,518	134,251
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	259,731	(1,513)	205,227	16,467
Total costs and other deductions	1,144,208	1,649,159	3,301,544	4,719,329
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	(331,777)	163,941	(203,565)	305,395
Income 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
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(293,510)	116,378	(189,624)	235,970
Total revenues and other income	(293,510)	116,378	(189,624)	235,970
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	2,216	3,097	7,047	7,989
Interest expense			(1)
Intercompany interest expense	(1)	7	23	66
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	109	7,226	12,328	7,504
Total costs and other deductions	2,324	10,330	19,397	15,559
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	(295,834)	106,048	(209,021)	220,411
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(295,834)	106,048	(209,021)	220,411
Net income (loss)	(295,834)	106,048	(209,021)	220,411
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(295,834)	106,048	(209,021)	220,411
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(47,522)	67,504	(40,029)	112,112
Investment income (loss)		1,694	560	1,840
Intercompany interest income	913		5,539
Total revenues and other income	(46,609)	69,198	(33,930)	113,952
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	180	7,957	(143)	7,607
Depreciation and amortization	31	902	674	2,706
Interest expense	49,320	49,415	151,297	148,097
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net				(223)
Total costs and other deductions	49,531	58,274	151,828	158,187
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	(96,140)	10,924	(185,758)	(44,235)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(17,989)	(20,935)	(53,920)	(57,849)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(78,151)	31,859	(131,838)	13,614
Net income (loss)	(78,151)	31,859	(131,838)	13,614
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(78,151)	31,859	(131,838)	13,614
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Revenues and other income:
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)
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(78,151)	31,859	(131,838)	13,614
Investment income (loss)	2,305	2,199	8,549	12,371
Total revenues and other income	736,607	1,844,969	2,972,562	5,040,474
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	518,174	1,181,986	1,926,306	3,310,220
General and administrative expenses	79,487	128,065	288,686	391,697
Depreciation and amortization	240,076	285,679	738,648	848,822
Interest expense	(4,872)	(6,277)	(15,778)	(13,846)
Intercompany interest expense	914	(7)	5,516	(66)
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	259,487	(8,891)	192,480	8,756
Total costs and other deductions	1,093,266	1,580,555	3,135,858	4,545,583
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	(356,659)	264,414	(163,296)	494,891
Income tax expense (benefit)	(62,909)	82,446	18,762	144,124
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend				1,984
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(293,750)	181,968	(182,058)	348,783
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(45,275)	4,005	(41,067)	4,488
Net income (loss)	(339,025)	185,973	(223,125)	353,271
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	320	(387)	453	(1,213)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(338,705)	185,586	(222,672)	352,058
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	419,183	(215,741)	361,491	(361,696)
Investment income (loss)	(2,327)	(1,704)	(6,981)	(3,976)
Intercompany interest income	(913)		(5,539)
Total revenues and other income	415,943	(217,445)	348,971	(365,672)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	(135)	(152)	(419)	(430)
Intercompany interest expense	(913)		(5,539)
Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of long-lived assets and other expense (income), net	135	152	419	430
Total costs and other deductions	(913)		(5,539)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax	416,856	(217,445)	354,510	(365,672)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	416,856	(217,445)	354,510	(365,672)
Net income (loss)	416,856	(217,445)	354,510	(365,672)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ 416,856	$ (217,445)	$ 354,510	$ (365,672)