Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (111,211)	$ (295,834)	$ (694,155)	$ (209,021)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	(8,950)	(38,859)		(95,125)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment			27,870	5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(8,950)	(38,859)	27,870	(89,760)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	1,502	(8,127)	3,551	(10,127)
Unrealized gain (loss) on translation adjustment	(8,950)	(38,859)	27,870	(95,125)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)	3,495		3,495
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	4,997	(8,127)	7,046	(10,127)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	297	276	765	828
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153	459	459
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(3,503)	(46,557)	36,140	(98,600)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	172	162	472	485
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(3,675)	(46,719)	35,668	(99,085)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(114,886)	(342,553)	(658,487)	(308,106)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,185	(320)	(990)	(453)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	(90)	(476)	371	(1,194)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,095	(796)	(619)	(1,647)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(113,791)	(343,349)	(659,106)	(309,753)
Reportable Legal Entities | Parent Company
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(111,211)	(295,834)	(694,155)	(209,021)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	(8,950)	(38,859)		(95,125)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment			27,870	5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(8,950)	(38,859)		(89,760)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	1,502	(8,127)	3,551	(10,127)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)	3,495		3,495
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	4,997	(8,127)	7,046	(10,127)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	297	276	765	828
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153	459	459
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(3,503)	(46,557)	36,140	(98,600)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	172	162	472	485
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(3,675)	(46,719)	35,668	(99,085)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(114,886)	(342,553)	(658,487)	(308,106)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(114,886)	(342,553)	(658,487)	(308,106)
Reportable Legal Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(77,423)	(78,151)	(264,583)	(131,838)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	12			51
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment			(39)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	12			51
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	297	276	765	828
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153	459	459
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	462	429	1,185	1,338
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	172	162	472	485
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	290	267	713	853
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(77,133)	(77,884)	(263,870)	(130,985)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(77,133)	(77,884)	(263,870)	(130,985)
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(149,775)	(338,705)	(844,844)	(222,672)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	(8,938)	(38,859)		(95,074)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment			27,870	5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(8,938)	(38,859)		(89,709)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	2,782	(8,127)	3,551	(10,127)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)	3,495		3,495
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	6,277	(8,127)	7,046	(10,127)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	594	552	1,530	1,656
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153	459	459
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(1,914)	(46,281)	36,905	(97,721)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	284	264	765	791
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(2,198)	(46,545)	36,140	(98,512)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(151,973)	(385,250)	(808,704)	(321,184)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,185	(320)	(990)	(453)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	(90)	(476)	371	(1,194)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,095	(796)	(619)	(1,647)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(150,878)	(386,046)	(809,323)	(322,831)
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	227,198	416,856	1,109,427	354,510
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	8,926	38,859		95,023
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment			(27,831)	(5,365)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	8,926	38,859		89,658
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(2,782)	8,127	(3,551)	10,127
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)	(3,495)		(3,495)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(6,277)	8,127	(7,046)	10,127
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	(891)	(828)	(2,295)	(2,484)
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	(306)	(306)	(918)	(918)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	1,452	45,852	(38,090)	96,383
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(456)	(426)	(1,237)	(1,276)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,908	46,278	(36,853)	97,659
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	229,106	463,134	1,072,574	452,169
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 229,106	$ 463,134	$ 1,072,574	$ 452,169