Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 1,456,487,000	$ 1,106,984,000	$ 1,616,972,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments	(11,746,000)	(34,147,000)	(32,674,000)
Sales and maturities of investments	39,063,000	34,613,000	57,033,000
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net	(55,459,000)	(733,630,000)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(112,262,000)	(40,936,000)	(125,076,000)
Distribution of proceeds from asset sales of unconsolidated affiliates	142,984,000
Capital expenditures	(2,042,617,000)	(930,277,000)	(1,093,435,000)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	180,558,000	31,072,000	31,375,000
Net cash used for investing activities	(1,859,479,000)	(1,673,305,000)	(1,162,777,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	6,375,000	(6,298,000)	(18,157,000)
Proceeds from long-term debt	697,578,000	696,948,000	1,124,978,000
Debt issuance costs	(7,141,000)	(8,934,000)	(8,832,000)
Payments for (proceeds from) hedge transactions		(5,667,000)
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities	1,560,000,000	600,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of common shares	11,605,000	8,201,000	11,249,000
Reduction in long-term debt	(1,404,281,000)	(398,514,000)	(1,081,801,000)
Reduction in revolving credit facilities	(700,000,000)	(600,000,000)
Repurchase of equity component of convertible debt	(12,000)	(4,712,000)	(6,586,000)
Settlement of call options and warrants, net	0	1,134,000
Purchase of restricted stock	(2,626,000)	(1,935,000)	(1,515,000)
Tax benefit related to share-based awards	1,747,000	31,000	37,000
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	163,245,000	280,254,000	19,373,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(3,380,000)	(46,000)	12,160,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(243,127,000)	(286,113,000)	485,728,000
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	641,702,000	927,815,000	442,087,000
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	398,575,000	641,702,000	927,815,000
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor) [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	6,614,000	115,179,000	40,589,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates	(26,235,000)	(122,300,000)	(46,912,000)
Net cash used for investing activities	(26,235,000)	(122,300,000)	(46,912,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common shares	11,605,000	8,201,000	11,249,000
Purchase of restricted stock	(2,626,000)	(1,935,000)	(1,515,000)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	8,979,000	6,266,000	9,734,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(10,644,000)	(855,000)	3,411,000
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	10,847,000	11,702,000	8,291,000
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	203,000	10,847,000	11,702,000
Nabors Delaware (Issuer/Guarantor) [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	(31,178,000)	757,345,000	646,645,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates	(65,000,000)	(1,027,134,000)	(900,000,000)
Net cash used for investing activities	(65,000,000)	(1,027,134,000)	(900,000,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt	697,578,000	696,948,000	1,124,978,000
Debt issuance costs	(7,141,000)	(8,934,000)	(8,832,000)
Payments for (proceeds from) hedge transactions		(5,667,000)
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities	1,510,000,000	600,000,000
Reduction in long-term debt	(1,404,246,000)	(274,095,000)	(856,203,000)
Reduction in revolving credit facilities	(700,000,000)	(600,000,000)
Repurchase of equity component of convertible debt	(12,000)	(4,712,000)	(6,586,000)
Settlement of call options and warrants, net		1,134,000
Cash dividends paid		(135,000,000)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	96,179,000	269,674,000	253,394,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,000	(115,000)	39,000
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	20,000	135,000	96,000
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	21,000	20,000	135,000
Nabors Holdings (Issuer) [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	0	0	608,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of consolidated affiliates			239,421,000
Net cash used for investing activities	0	0	239,421,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Intercompany debt			143,859,000
Reduction in long-term debt		0	(225,191,000)
Cash dividends paid		0	(159,956,000)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	0	0	(241,288,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0	(1,259,000)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	0	0	1,259,000
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	0	0	0
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,479,357,000	504,460,000	1,089,086,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments	(11,746,000)	(34,147,000)	(32,674,000)
Sales and maturities of investments	39,063,000	34,613,000	57,033,000
Cash paid for acquisition of businesses, net	(55,459,000)	(733,630,000)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(112,262,000)	(40,936,000)	(125,076,000)
Distribution of proceeds from asset sales of unconsolidated affiliates	142,984,000
Capital expenditures	(2,039,921,000)	(930,277,000)	(1,093,435,000)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance claims	179,558,000	31,072,000	31,375,000
Proceeds from sale of consolidated affiliates			(239,421,000)
Net cash used for investing activities	(1,857,783,000)	1,673,305,000	(1,402,198,000)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	6,375,000	(6,298,000)	(18,157,000)
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities	50,000,000
Intercompany debt			(143,859,000)
Reduction in long-term debt	(35,000)	(124,419,000)	(407,000)
Tax benefit related to share-based awards	1,747,000	31,000
Cash dividends paid		(135,000,000)
Proceeds from parent contributions	91,235,000	1,149,434,000	946,912,000
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	149,322,000	883,748,000	784,489,000
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(3,380,000)	(46,000)	12,160,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(232,484,000)	(285,143,000)	483,537,000
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	630,835,000	915,978,000	432,441,000
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	398,351,000	630,835,000	915,978,000
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	0	(270,000,000)	(159,956,000)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments in consolidated affiliates	91,235,000	1,149,434,000	946,912,000
Net cash used for investing activities	91,235,000	1,149,434,000	946,912,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash dividends paid		270,000,000	159,956,000
Proceeds from parent contributions	(91,235,000)	(1,149,434,000)	(946,912,000)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(91,235,000)	(879,434,000)	(786,956,000)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	0	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0