Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (184,650)	$ (36,821)	$ (582,944)	$ 86,813
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	3,458	12,273		(56,266)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment			36,820	5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	3,458	12,273	36,820	(50,901)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	1,280	(2,153)	2,049	(2,000)
Unrealized gain (loss) on translation adjustment	3,458	12,273	36,820	(56,266)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	1,280	(2,153)	2,049	(2,000)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	294	276	468	552
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153	306	306
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	5,185	10,549	39,643	(52,043)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	171	161	300	323
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	5,014	10,388	39,343	(52,366)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(179,636)	(26,433)	(543,601)	34,447
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(2,899)	(44)	(2,175)	(133)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	42	162	461	(718)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(2,857)	118	(1,714)	(851)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(182,493)	(26,315)	(545,315)	33,596
Reportable Legal Entities | Parent Company
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(184,650)	(36,821)	(582,944)	86,813
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	3,458	12,273		(56,266)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment			36,820	5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	3,458	12,273		(50,901)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	1,280	(2,153)	2,049	(2,000)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	1,280	(2,153)	2,049	(2,000)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	294	276	468	552
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153	306	306
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	5,185	10,549	39,643	(52,043)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	171	161	300	323
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	5,014	10,388	39,343	(52,366)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(179,636)	(26,433)	(543,601)	34,447
Comprehensive income (loss)	(179,636)	(26,433)	(543,601)	34,447
Reportable Legal Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(49,190)	24,751	(187,160)	(53,687)
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	294	276	468	552
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153	306	306
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	493	429	774	909
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	171	161	300	323
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	322	268	474	586
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(48,868)	25,019	(186,686)	(53,101)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(48,868)	25,019	(186,686)	(53,101)
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(196,193)	22,109	(695,069)	116,033
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	3,504	12,273		(56,215)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment			36,820	5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	3,504	12,273		(50,850)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	1,280	(2,153)	2,049	(2,000)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	1,280	(2,153)	2,049	(2,000)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	588	552	936	1,104
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153	306	306
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	5,525	10,825	40,111	(51,440)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	283	263	481	527
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	5,242	10,562	39,630	(51,967)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(190,951)	32,671	(655,439)	64,066
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(2,899)	(44)	(2,175)	(133)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	42	162	461	(718)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(2,857)	118	(1,714)	(851)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(193,808)	32,789	(657,153)	63,215
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	245,383	(46,860)	882,229	(62,346)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	(3,550)	(12,273)		56,164
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment			(36,820)	(5,365)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(3,550)	(12,273)		50,799
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(1,280)	2,153	(2,049)	2,000
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(1,280)	2,153	(2,049)	2,000
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	(882)	(828)	(1,404)	(1,656)
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	(306)	(306)	(612)	(612)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(6,018)	(11,254)	(40,885)	50,531
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(454)	(424)	(781)	(850)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(5,564)	(10,830)	(40,104)	51,381
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	239,819	(57,690)	842,125	(10,965)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 239,819	$ (57,690)	$ 842,125	$ (10,965)