Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues	$ 538,948	$ 519,729	$ 571,591	$ 597,571	$ 738,872	$ 847,553	$ 863,305	$ 1,414,707	$ 2,227,839	$ 3,864,437	$ 6,804,197
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									(118,335)	316,841	797,864
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates									(221,914)	(75,081)	(6,301)
Investment income (loss)									1,183	2,308	11,831
Interest expense									185,360	181,928	177,948
Impairments and other charges									(505,164)	(368,967)	(1,005,110)
Other, net									37,509	(39,172)	31,386
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(1,198,075)	(427,535)	(604,615)
Income tax expense (benefit)									(186,831)	(98,038)	62,666
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(330,196)	(97,839)	(186,565)	(396,644)	(161,090)	(250,879)	(41,890)	124,362	(1,011,244)	(329,497)	(669,265)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(4,266)	(12,187)	(984)	(926)	(1,730)	(45,275)	5,025	(817)	(18,363)	(42,797)	21
Net income (loss)	(334,462)	(110,026)	(187,549)	(397,570)	(162,820)	(296,154)	(36,865)	123,545	(1,029,607)	(372,294)	(669,244)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,125)	(1,185)	2,899	(724)	(834)	320	44	89	(135)	(381)	(1,415)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(335,587)	$ (111,211)	$ (184,650)	$ (398,294)	(163,654)	$ (295,834)	$ (36,821)	$ 123,634	(1,029,742)	(372,675)	(670,659)
ASSETS
Total assets	8,187,015				9,537,840				8,187,015	9,537,840
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	893				415,177				893	415,177
Assets held for sale	76,668				75,678				76,668	75,678
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net									(221,914)	(84,275)	(7,102)
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									871,631	970,459	1,145,100
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									414,379	923,236	1,923,779
C&J Energy Services, Ltd.
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates									(221,933)	(81,260)
Impairments and other charges									$ (216,200)
Drilling and Rig Services
Financial information with respect to reportable segments
Number of operating segments | segment									4
Operating segment | Reportable subsegments
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									$ (118,335)	316,841	797,864
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues									2,330,144	3,647,942	4,812,327
ASSETS
Total assets	7,461,879				8,564,102				7,461,879	8,564,102
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									875,032	917,361	922,396
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									380,941	840,673	1,781,092
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									(118,335)	375,643	719,990
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | U.S.
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues									554,072	1,256,989	2,159,968
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									(197,710)	87,051	370,173
ASSETS
Total assets	3,172,767				3,654,216				3,172,767	3,654,216
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									388,367	425,952	465,506
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									183,146	224,819	839,536
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | Canada
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues									51,472	137,494	335,192
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									(36,818)	(7,029)	52,468
ASSETS
Total assets	329,620				371,151				329,620	371,151
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									42,143	46,786	55,986
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									4,546	24,167	49,317
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | International
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues									1,508,890	1,862,393	1,624,259
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									164,677	308,262	243,975
ASSETS
Total assets	3,600,057				4,108,416				3,600,057	4,108,416
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									411,372	411,004	367,345
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									169,640	578,896	788,748
Operating segment | Drilling and Rig Services | Reportable subsegments | Rig Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues									215,710	391,066	692,908
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									(48,484)	(12,641)	53,374
ASSETS
Total assets	359,435				430,319				359,435	430,319
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									33,150	33,619	33,559
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									23,609	12,791	103,491
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues										366,372	2,251,437
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization										53,735	224,422
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions										45,691	156,106
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services | Reportable subsegments
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities										(58,802)	77,874
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services | Reportable subsegments | Completion Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues										207,860	1,217,899
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities										(55,243)	(15,540)
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization										27,133	109,917
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services | Reportable subsegments | Production Services
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues										158,512	1,033,538
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities										(3,559)	93,414
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization										26,602	114,505
Other reconciling items (3)
Operating revenues and Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues									(102,305)	(149,877)	(259,567)
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									(130,976)	(159,880)	(193,565)
ASSETS
Total assets	$ 724,243				$ 558,561				724,243	558,561
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									(3,401)	(637)	(1,718)
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions									$ 33,438	$ 36,872	$ (13,419)