Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues	$ 738,872	$ 847,553	$ 863,305	$ 1,414,707	$ 1,783,836	$ 1,813,762	$ 1,616,981	$ 1,589,618	$ 3,864,437	$ 6,804,197	$ 6,152,015
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									156,961	604,299	558,180
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates									(75,081)	(6,301)	39
Investment income (loss)									2,308	11,831	96,577
Interest expense									181,928	177,948	223,418
Impairments and other charges									(368,967)	(1,027,423)	(287,241)
Other, net									(39,172)	9,073	37,977
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(427,535)	(604,615)	106,160
Income tax expense (benefit)									(98,038)	62,666	(55,181)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(161,090)	(250,879)	(41,890)	124,362	(886,401)	102,430	65,729	48,977	(329,497)	(669,265)	158,341
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1,730)	(45,275)	5,025	(817)	(4,467)	4,005	(1,032)	1,515	(42,797)	21	(11,179)
Net income (loss)									(372,294)	(669,244)	147,162
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(834)	320	44	89	(202)	(387)	(253)	(573)	(381)	(1,415)	(7,180)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(163,654)	$ (295,834)	$ (36,821)	$ 123,634	(891,070)	$ 106,048	$ 64,444	$ 49,919	(372,675)	(670,659)	139,982
ASSETS
Total assets	9,537,840				11,862,923				9,537,840	11,862,923
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	415,177				58,251				415,177	58,251
Assets held for sale	75,678				146,467				75,678	146,467
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net									(84,275)	(7,102)	(800)
Advances To Equity Method Investees									0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									970,459	1,145,100	1,086,677
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									923,236	1,923,779	1,365,994
C&J Energy Services, Ltd.
ASSETS
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net									$ (81,300)
Drilling and Rig Services
Financial information with respect to reportable segments
Number of operating segments | segment									4
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues									$ 3,647,942	4,812,327	4,257,082
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									375,643	719,990	550,956
ASSETS
Total assets	8,564,102				9,116,670				8,564,102	9,116,670
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	900				48,100				900	48,100
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									917,361	922,396	876,694
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									840,673	1,781,092	1,023,989
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | U.S.
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues									1,256,989	2,159,968	1,914,786
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									87,051	370,173	315,496
ASSETS
Total assets	3,654,216				4,184,854				3,654,216	4,184,854
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									425,952	465,506	440,210
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									224,819	839,536	644,792
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | Canada
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues									137,494	335,192	361,676
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									(7,029)	52,468	61,193
ASSETS
Total assets	371,151				615,269				371,151	615,269
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									46,786	55,986	57,796
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									24,167	49,317	59,386
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | International
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues									1,862,393	1,624,259	1,459,223
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									308,262	243,975	172,792
ASSETS
Total assets	4,108,416				3,766,925				4,108,416	3,766,925
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									411,004	367,345	346,659
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									578,896	788,748	248,980
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | Rig Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues									391,066	692,908	521,397
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									(12,641)	53,374	1,475
ASSETS
Total assets	430,319				549,622				430,319	549,622
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									33,619	33,559	32,029
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									12,791	103,491	70,831
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues									366,372	2,251,437	2,083,535
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									(58,802)	77,874	153,461
ASSETS
Total assets					1,923,206					1,923,206
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates accounted for using equity method	415,200				10,200				415,200	10,200
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									53,735	224,422	212,744
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									45,691	156,106	325,449
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services | Reportable subsegments | United States Land Well Servicing
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues									158,512	1,033,538	1,009,214
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									(3,559)	93,414	102,130
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									26,602	114,505	103,502
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services | Reportable subsegments | Pressure Pumping
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues									207,860	1,217,899	1,074,321
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									(55,243)	(15,540)	51,331
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									27,133	109,917	109,242
Other reconciling items
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues									(149,877)	(259,567)	(188,602)
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									(159,880)	(193,565)	(146,237)
ASSETS
Total assets	$ 558,561				$ 764,796				558,561	764,796
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									(637)	(1,718)	(2,761)
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									$ 36,872	$ (13,419)	$ 16,556