Name:	nbr_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPriceAsPercentageOfPrincipalAmountAccruedAndUnpaidInterest
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Period Type:	duration

Represents Exercisable of Accordian option

No definition available.

Name:	nbr_ExerciseOfAccordianOption
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of increase in borrowing capacity authorized under the credit facility as per amendment agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	nbr_LineOfCreditFacilityAuthorizedIncreaseInBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Minimum net proceeds of disposed of assets, issued term debt, or issued equity, a requirement to prepay the loan.

No definition available.

Name:	nbr_NetProceedsOfDisposalOfAssetsIssuanceOfTermDebtOrEquityMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Represents the amount of prepayment of loan.

No definition available.

Name:	nbr_PrepaymentOfLoan
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Represents the maturity period of unsecured debt.

No definition available.

Name:	nbr_UnsecuredDebtTermOfMaturity
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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage price of original principal amount of debt at which debt can be redeemed by the issuer.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Period Type:	duration

Face (par) amount of the original debt instrument that was repurchased.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm
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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCredit
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Period remaining on line of credit facility before it terminates, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityExpirationPeriod
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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The cash inflow from a debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The cash outflow during the period from the repayment of aggregate short-term and long-term debt. Excludes payment of capital lease obligations.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_RepaymentsOfDebt
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Name:	us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of uncollateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
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Name:	us-gaap_UnsecuredDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=us-gaap_GuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorNotesDueTwoZeroOneSixMember
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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorNotesDueTwoZeroTwoThreeMember
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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorNotesDueTwoZeroOneNineMember
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Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_SeniorNotes5.50PercentageDueTwoZeroTwoThreeMember
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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
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Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_ExchangeableSeniorNotesDueJanuary152024Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_TermLoanFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_ThreeYearTermLoanFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nbr_FiveYearTermLoanFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember
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