Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statements of Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	$ 519,729		$ 847,553		$ 1,688,891	$ 3,125,565
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates	2	$ (54,788)	(35,100)	$ (35,900)	(221,918)	(29,714)
Investment income (loss)	310		(22)		923	2,128
Total revenues and other income	520,041		812,431		1,467,896	3,097,979
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	306,436		518,174		1,012,738	1,926,306
General and administrative expenses	56,078		72,032		175,036	263,272
Research and Engineering	8,476		9,716		24,818	31,899
Depreciation and amortization	220,713		240,107		655,444	739,322
Interest expense	46,836		44,448		137,803	135,518
Other, net	10,392		259,731		267,403	205,227
Total costs and other deductions	648,931		1,144,208		2,273,242	3,301,544
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(128,890)		(331,777)		(805,346)	(203,565)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(31,051)		(80,898)		(124,298)	(35,158)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(97,839)		(250,879)		(681,048)	(168,407)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(12,187)		(45,275)		(14,097)	(41,067)
Net income (loss)	(110,026)		(296,154)		(695,145)	(209,474)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,185)		320		990	453
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(111,211)		(295,834)		(694,155)	(209,021)
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	230,179		419,183		1,118,370	361,491
Investment income (loss)	(2,981)		(2,327)		(8,943)	(6,981)
Intercompany interest income	(153)		(913)		(417)	(5,539)
Total revenues and other income	227,045		415,943		1,109,010	348,971
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	(167)		(135)		(481)	(419)
Other, net	167		135		481	419
Intercompany interest expense	(153)		(913)		(417)	(5,539)
Total costs and other deductions	(153)		(913)		(417)	(5,539)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	227,198		416,856		1,109,427	354,510
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	227,198		416,856		1,109,427	354,510
Net income (loss)	227,198		416,856		1,109,427	354,510
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	227,198		416,856		1,109,427	354,510
Parent Company | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(107,229)		(293,510)		(685,148)	(189,624)
Investment income (loss)					1
Intercompany interest income	(9)
Total revenues and other income	(107,238)		(293,510)		(685,147)	(189,624)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	3,053		2,216		7,767	7,047
Interest expense						(1)
Other, net	929		109		1,245	12,328
Intercompany interest expense	(9)		(1)		(4)	23
Total costs and other deductions	3,973		2,324		9,008	19,397
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(111,211)		(295,834)		(694,155)	(209,021)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(111,211)		(295,834)		(694,155)	(209,021)
Net income (loss)	(111,211)		(295,834)		(694,155)	(209,021)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(111,211)		(295,834)		(694,155)	(209,021)
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(45,527)		(47,522)		(168,639)	(40,029)
Investment income (loss)					132	560
Intercompany interest income	162		913		417	5,539
Total revenues and other income	(45,365)		(46,609)		(168,090)	(33,930)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	182		180		448	(143)
Depreciation and amortization	31		31		93	674
Interest expense	50,595		49,320		152,318	151,297
Other, net	(18)				(18)
Total costs and other deductions	50,790		49,531		152,841	151,828
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(96,155)		(96,140)		(320,931)	(185,758)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(18,732)		(17,989)		(56,348)	(53,920)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(77,423)		(78,151)		(264,583)	(131,838)
Net income (loss)	(77,423)		(78,151)		(264,583)	(131,838)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(77,423)		(78,151)		(264,583)	(131,838)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	519,729		847,553		1,688,891	3,125,565
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates	2		(35,100)		(221,918)	(29,714)
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(77,423)		(78,151)		(264,583)	(131,838)
Investment income (loss)	3,291		2,305		9,733	8,549
Total revenues and other income	445,599		736,607		1,212,123	2,972,562
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	306,436		518,174		1,012,738	1,926,306
General and administrative expenses	53,010		69,771		167,302	256,787
Research and Engineering	8,476		9,716		24,818	31,899
Depreciation and amortization	220,682		240,076		655,351	738,648
Interest expense	(3,759)		(4,872)		(14,515)	(15,778)
Other, net	9,314		259,487		265,695	192,480
Intercompany interest expense	162		914		421	5,516
Total costs and other deductions	594,321		1,093,266		2,111,810	3,135,858
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(148,722)		(356,659)		(899,687)	(163,296)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(12,319)		(62,909)		(67,950)	18,762
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(136,403)		(293,750)		(831,737)	(182,058)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(12,187)		(45,275)		(14,097)	(41,067)
Net income (loss)	(148,590)		(339,025)		(845,834)	(223,125)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,185)		320		990	453
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (149,775)		$ (338,705)		$ (844,844)	$ (222,672)