Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
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
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment									(116,239)	(79,059)	(65,447)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment									5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									(110,874)	(79,059)	(65,447)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									(15,310)	(59,932)	23,007
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment									(116,239)	(79,059)	(65,447)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)										2,337	(88,158)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									(15,310)	(57,595)	(65,151)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									1,104	(5,050)	5,916
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges									613	612	613
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									(124,467)	(141,092)	(124,069)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									648	(2,474)	(66)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(125,115)	(138,618)	(124,003)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(497,790)	(809,277)	15,979
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	$ 834	$ (320)	$ (44)	$ (89)	$ 202	$ 387	$ 253	$ 573	381	1,415	7,180
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest									(1,461)	(1,017)	(932)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									1,080	(398)	(6,248)
Comprehensive income (loss)									(498,870)	(808,879)	22,227
Reportable Legal Entities | Parent Company
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(372,675)	(670,659)	139,982
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment									(116,239)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment									5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									(110,874)	(79,059)	(65,447)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									(15,310)	(59,932)	23,007
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment									(116,239)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)										2,337	(88,158)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									(15,310)	(57,595)	(65,151)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									1,104	(5,050)	5,916
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges									613	612	613
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									(124,467)	(141,092)	(124,069)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									648	(2,474)	(66)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(125,115)	(138,618)	(124,003)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(497,790)	(809,277)	15,979
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest											7,180
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest											(932)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest											(6,248)
Comprehensive income (loss)									(497,790)	(809,277)	22,227
Reportable Legal Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(164,697)	(250,365)	(92,137)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment									67
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									67	1,583	87
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities										156	98
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment									67
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)										(2,395)	(7,114)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities										(2,239)	(7,016)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									1,104	(5,050)	5,916
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges									613	612	613
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									1,784	(5,094)	(400)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									648	(2,474)	(66)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									1,136	(2,620)	(334)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(163,561)	(252,985)	(92,471)
Comprehensive income (loss)									(163,561)	(252,985)	(92,471)
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(383,291)	(767,817)	354,812
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment									(116,172)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment									5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									(110,807)	(79,174)	(65,357)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									(15,310)	(59,776)	23,105
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment									(116,172)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)										(58)	(95,272)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									(15,310)	(59,834)	(72,167)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									2,208	(10,100)	11,832
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges									613	612	613
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									(123,296)	(148,496)	(125,079)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									1,056	(5,187)	(370)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(124,352)	(143,309)	(124,709)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(507,643)	(911,126)	230,103
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									381	1,415	7,180
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest									(1,461)	(1,017)	(932)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									1,080	(398)	(6,248)
Comprehensive income (loss)									(508,723)	(910,728)	236,351
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									547,988	1,018,182	(262,675)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment									116,105
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment									(5,365)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									110,740	77,591	65,270
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									15,310	59,620	(23,203)
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment									116,105
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)										2,453	102,386
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									15,310	62,073	79,183
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									(3,312)	15,150	(17,748)
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges									(1,226)	(1,224)	(1,226)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									121,512	153,590	125,479
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									(1,704)	7,661	436
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									123,216	145,929	125,043
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									671,204	1,164,111	(137,632)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest											(7,180)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest											932
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest											6,248
Comprehensive income (loss)									$ 671,204	$ 1,164,111	$ (143,880)