Subsequent Events (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands				12 Months Ended
	Feb. 17, 2017	Jan. 09, 2017	Jan. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Subsequent event
Dividend declared (in dollars per share)				$ 0.06	$ 0.06
Additional aggregate principal amount				$ 600,000
Prepayment of term loan facility				162,500	$ 300,000
Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount				$ 152,700	$ 27,500	$ 40,600
Subsequent Event
Subsequent event
Dividend declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06
Exchange rate of common shares		3.975
Initial exchange price (In dollars per share)		$ 25.16
Subsequent Event | Exchangeable notes
Subsequent event
Aggregate principal amount		$ 575,000
Subsequent Event | Term Loan Facility
Subsequent event
Prepayment of term loan facility		162,500
Subsequent Event | Senior Notes.
Subsequent event
Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount			$ 69,200
Cash outflow to repurchase senior notes			$ 74,100
Subsequent Event | Nabors Delaware (Issuer)
Subsequent event
Payment of capped call transaction cost		40,300
Subsequent Event | Nabors Delaware (Issuer) | Exchangeable notes
Subsequent event
Aggregate principal amount		$ 500,000
Interest rate (as a percent)		0.75%
Period for option to purchase additional notes		30 days
Additional aggregate principal amount		$ 75,000
Cap Price (in dollars per share)		$ 31.4500
Premium percentage		75.00%
Last reported sale price		$ 17.97