Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statements of Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues and other income:
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
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates									(221,914)	(75,081)	(6,301)
Investment income (loss)									1,183	2,308	11,831
Total revenues and other income									2,007,108	3,791,664	6,809,727
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs									1,344,298	2,371,436	4,505,064
General and administrative expenses									227,639	324,328	500,036
Research and Engineering									33,582	41,253	49,698
Depreciation and amortization									871,631	970,459	1,145,100
Interest expense									185,360	181,928	177,948
Impairments and other charges									236,745	129,341	650,199
Impairment and other charges									505,164	368,967	1,005,110
Other, net									37,509	(39,172)	31,386
Total costs and other deductions									3,205,183	4,219,199	7,414,342
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
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend											(1,984)
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)
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									1,609,049	557,930	1,024,485
Investment income (loss)									(11,923)	(9,942)	(6,303)
Intercompany interest income									(569)	(6,452)	(2,751)
Total revenues and other income									1,596,557	541,536	1,015,431
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses									(856)	(560)	(587)
Other, net									856	560	587
Intercompany interest expense									(569)	(6,452)	(2,751)
Total costs and other deductions									(569)	(6,452)	(2,751)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									1,597,126	547,988	1,018,182
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									1,597,126	547,988	1,018,182
Net income (loss)									1,597,126	547,988	1,018,182
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									1,597,126	547,988	1,018,182
Parent Company | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									(1,017,338)	(351,407)	(653,124)
Investment income (loss)									2
Total revenues and other income									(1,017,336)	(351,407)	(653,124)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses									10,559	8,768	9,531
Interest expense										(1)
Impairment and other charges									1,366
Other, net									482	12,469	7,668
Intercompany interest expense									(1)	32	336
Total costs and other deductions									12,406	21,268	17,535
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(1,029,742)	(372,675)	(670,659)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									(1,029,742)	(372,675)	(670,659)
Net income (loss)									(1,029,742)	(372,675)	(670,659)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(1,029,742)	(372,675)	(670,659)
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									(231,960)	(41,826)	(120,996)
Investment income (loss)									132	584	1,869
Intercompany interest income									569	6,452	2,415
Total revenues and other income									(231,259)	(34,790)	(116,712)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses									603	1	8,001
Depreciation and amortization									124	705	3,608
Interest expense									204,010	201,364	198,246
Other, net									(14)		(223)
Total costs and other deductions									204,723	202,070	209,632
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(435,982)	(236,860)	(326,344)
Income tax expense (benefit)									(76,231)	(72,163)	(75,979)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									(359,751)	(164,697)	(250,365)
Net income (loss)									(359,751)	(164,697)	(250,365)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(359,751)	(164,697)	(250,365)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues									2,227,839	3,864,437	6,804,197
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates									(221,914)	(75,081)	(6,301)
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									(359,751)	(164,697)	(250,365)
Investment income (loss)									12,972	11,666	16,265
Intercompany interest income											336
Total revenues and other income									1,659,146	3,636,325	6,564,132
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs									1,344,298	2,371,436	4,505,064
General and administrative expenses									217,333	316,119	483,091
Research and Engineering									33,582	41,253	49,698
Depreciation and amortization									871,507	969,754	1,141,492
Interest expense									(18,650)	(19,435)	(20,298)
Impairment and other charges									503,798	368,967	1,005,110
Other, net									36,185	(52,201)	23,354
Intercompany interest expense									570	6,420	2,415
Total costs and other deductions									2,988,623	4,002,313	7,189,926
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(1,329,477)	(365,988)	(625,794)
Income tax expense (benefit)									(110,600)	(25,875)	138,645
Subsidiary preferred stock dividend											(1,984)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									(1,218,877)	(340,113)	(766,423)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									(18,363)	(42,797)	21
Net income (loss)									(1,237,240)	(382,910)	(766,402)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest									(135)	(381)	(1,415)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									$ (1,237,375)	$ (383,291)	$ (767,817)