Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 354,022	$ 398,575	$ 569,736	$ 641,702
Short-term investments	139,950	140,914
Assets held for sale	433,446	401,500
Accounts receivable, net	1,717,375	1,576,555
Inventory	265,787	272,852
Deferred income taxes	45,038	127,874
Other current assets	173,606	170,044
Total current assets	3,129,224	3,088,314
Long-term investments and other receivables	6,373	11,124
Property, plant and equipment, net	8,814,081	8,629,946
Goodwill	501,536	501,258
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	303,103	371,021
Other long-term assets	393,877	310,477
Total assets	13,148,194	12,912,140
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	275,616	275,326
Trade accounts payable	687,576	782,753
Accrued liabilities	586,911	716,773
Assets held for sale	61,707	54,287
Income taxes payable	30,938	27,710
Total current liabilities	1,581,041	1,802,562
Long-term debt	4,497,725	4,348,490
Other long-term liabilities	322,003	292,758
Deferred income taxes	855,057	797,925
Total liabilities	7,255,826	7,241,735
Subsidiary preferred stock	69,188	69,188
Total shareholders' equity	5,810,923	5,587,815
Noncontrolling interest	12,257	13,402
Total equity	5,823,180	5,601,217	5,474,294	5,342,863
Total liabilities and equity	13,148,194	12,912,140
Nabors (Parent/Guarantor) [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	3,808	203	6,443	10,847
Other current assets	50	50
Total current assets	3,858	253
Intercompany receivables	164,629	164,760
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	5,644,060	5,429,029
Total assets	5,812,547	5,594,042
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	52	42
Accrued liabilities	1,572	6,185
Total current liabilities	1,624	6,227
Total liabilities	1,624	6,227
Total shareholders' equity	5,810,923	5,587,815
Total equity	5,810,923	5,587,815
Total liabilities and equity	5,812,547	5,594,042
Nabors Delaware (Issuer/Guarantor) [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	21	21	20	20
Other current assets	671	671
Total current assets	692	692
Property, plant and equipment, net	39,913	40,792
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	6,200,966	6,084,868
Other long-term assets	30,737	32,037
Total assets	6,272,308	6,158,389
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	274,761	274,604
Trade accounts payable	23	23
Accrued liabilities	35,933	100,101
Total current liabilities	310,717	374,728
Long-term debt	4,447,940	4,297,500
Other long-term liabilities	31,862	32,303
Deferred income taxes	30,404	11,221
Intercompany payable	292,134	379,400
Total liabilities	5,113,057	5,095,152
Total shareholders' equity	1,159,251	1,063,237
Total equity	1,159,251	1,063,237
Total liabilities and equity	6,272,308	6,158,389
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	350,193	398,351	563,273	630,835
Short-term investments	139,950	140,914
Assets held for sale	433,446	401,500
Accounts receivable, net	1,717,375	1,576,555
Inventory	265,787	272,852
Deferred income taxes	45,038	127,874
Other current assets	172,885	169,323
Total current assets	3,124,674	3,087,369
Long-term investments and other receivables	6,373	11,124
Property, plant and equipment, net	8,774,168	8,589,154
Goodwill	501,536	501,258
Intercompany receivables	537,881	537,881
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	1,810,355	1,843,654
Other long-term assets	363,140	278,440
Total assets	15,118,127	14,848,880
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	855	722
Trade accounts payable	687,501	782,688
Accrued liabilities	549,406	610,487
Income taxes payable	30,938	27,710
Total current liabilities	1,268,700	1,421,607
Long-term debt	49,785	50,990
Other long-term liabilities	290,141	260,454
Deferred income taxes	824,653	786,705
Intercompany payable	410,376	323,241
Total liabilities	2,843,655	2,842,997
Subsidiary preferred stock	69,188	69,188
Total shareholders' equity	12,193,027	11,923,293
Noncontrolling interest	12,257	13,402
Total equity	12,205,284	11,936,695
Total liabilities and equity	15,118,127	14,848,880
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Intercompany receivables	(702,510)	(702,641)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(13,352,278)	12,986,530
Total assets	(14,054,788)	(13,689,171)
Current liabilities:
Intercompany payable	(702,510)	(702,641)
Total liabilities	(702,510)	(702,641)
Total shareholders' equity	(13,352,278)	(12,986,530)
Total equity	(13,352,278)	(12,986,530)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (14,054,788)	$ (13,689,171)