Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Comprehensive Income (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (398,294)	$ 123,634
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	33,362	(68,539)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment		5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	33,362	(63,174)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	769	153
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	769	153
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	174	276
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	34,458	(62,592)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	129	162
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	34,329	(62,754)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(363,965)	60,880
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	724	(89)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	419	(880)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,143	(969)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(362,822)	59,911
Reportable Legal Entities | Parent Company
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(398,294)	123,634
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	33,362	(68,539)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment		5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	33,362	(63,174)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	769	153
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	769	153
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	174	276
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	34,458	(62,592)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	129	162
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	34,329	(62,754)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(363,965)	60,880
Comprehensive income (loss)	(363,965)	60,880
Reportable Legal Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(137,970)	(78,438)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	(46)	51
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(46)	51
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	174	276
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	281	480
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	129	162
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	152	318
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(137,818)	(78,120)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(137,818)	(78,120)
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(498,876)	93,924
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	33,316	(68,488)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment		5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	33,316	(63,123)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	769	153
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	769	153
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	348	552
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	34,586	(62,265)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	198	264
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	34,388	(62,529)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(464,488)	31,395
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	724	(89)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	419	(880)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,143	(969)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(463,345)	30,426
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	636,846	(15,486)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	(33,270)	68,437
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment		(5,365)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(33,270)	63,072
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(769)	(153)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(769)	(153)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	(522)	(828)
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	(306)	(306)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(34,867)	61,785
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(327)	(426)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(34,540)	62,211
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	602,306	46,725
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 602,306	$ 46,725