Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (295,834)	$ 106,048	$ (209,021)	$ 220,411
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized gains (losses) on translation adjustment	(38,859)		(95,125)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment			5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(38,859)	(41,713)	(89,760)	(46,052)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(8,127)	(15,054)	(10,127)	(34,587)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities		267		(4,636)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(8,127)	(14,787)	(10,127)	(39,223)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	276	123	828	369
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153	459	459
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(46,557)	(56,224)	(98,600)	(84,447)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	162	107	485	(529)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(46,719)	(56,331)	(99,085)	(83,918)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(342,553)	49,717	(308,106)	136,493
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(320)	387	(453)	1,213
Translation adjustment to noncontrolling interest	(476)	(522)	(1,194)	(624)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(796)	(135)	(1,647)	589
Comprehensive income (loss)	(343,349)	49,582	(309,753)	137,082
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors (Parent/Guarantor)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(295,834)	106,048	(209,021)	220,411
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized gains (losses) on translation adjustment	(38,959)		(95,125)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment			5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(38,859)	(41,713)	(89,760)	(46,052)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(8,127)	(15,054)	(10,127)	(34,587)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities		267		(4,636)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(8,127)	(14,787)	(10,127)	(39,223)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	276	123	828	369
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153	459	459
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(46,557)	(56,224)	(98,600)	(84,447)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	162	107	485	(529)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(46,719)	(56,331)	(99,085)	(83,918)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(342,553)	49,717	(308,106)	136,493
Comprehensive income (loss)	(342,553)	49,717	(308,106)	136,493
Reportable Legal Entities | Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(78,151)	31,859	(131,838)	13,614
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized gains (losses) on translation adjustment			51
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors		(33)	51	1,688
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities		(87)		156
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities		(1,889)		(2,395)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities		(1,976)		(2,239)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	276	123	828	369
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153	459	459
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	429	(1,733)	1,338	277
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	162	107	485	(529)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	267	(1,840)	853	806
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(77,884)	30,019	(130,985)	14,420
Comprehensive income (loss)	(77,884)	30,019	(130,985)	14,420
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(338,705)	185,586	(222,672)	352,058
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized gains (losses) on translation adjustment	(38,859)		(95,074)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment			5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(38,859)	(41,707)	(89,709)	(46,062)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(8,127)	(15,141)	(10,127)	(34,431)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities		(1,622)		(7,031)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(8,127)	(16,763)	(10,127)	(41,462)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	552	246	1,656	738
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	153	153	459	459
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(46,281)	(58,071)	(97,721)	(86,327)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	264	390	791	(1,237)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(46,545)	(58,461)	(98,512)	(85,090)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(385,250)	127,125	(321,184)	266,968
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(320)	387	(453)	1,213
Translation adjustment to noncontrolling interest	(476)	(522)	(1,194)	(624)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(796)	(135)	(1,647)	589
Comprehensive income (loss)	(386,046)	126,990	(322,831)	267,557
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	416,856	(217,445)	354,510	(365,672)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized gains (losses) on translation adjustment	38,859		95,023
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment			(5,365)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	38,859	41,740	89,658	44,374
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	8,127	15,228	10,127	34,275
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains)/losses on marketable securities		3,511		9,426
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	8,127	18,739	10,127	43,701
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	(828)	(369)	(2,484)	(1,107)
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization of cash flow hedges	(306)	(306)	(918)	(918)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	45,852	59,804	96,383	86,050
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(426)	(497)	(1,276)	1,766
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	46,278	60,301	97,659	84,284
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	463,134	(157,144)	452,169	(281,388)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 463,134	$ (157,144)	$ 452,169	$ (281,388)