Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Comprehensive 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
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
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)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment									17,743	(116,239)	(79,059)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment										5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									17,743	(110,874)	(79,059)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									11,054	(15,310)	(59,932)
Unrealized gain (loss) on translation adjustment									17,743	(116,239)	(79,059)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)									3,495		2,337
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									14,549	(15,310)	(57,595)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									1,061	1,104	(5,050)
Pension Buy-out									3,059
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges									613	613	612
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									37,025	(124,467)	(141,092)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									1,551	648	(2,474)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									35,474	(125,115)	(138,618)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(994,268)	(497,790)	(809,277)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	$ 1,125	$ 1,185	$ (2,899)	$ 724	$ 834	$ (320)	$ (44)	$ (89)	135	381	1,415
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest									251	(1,461)	(1,017)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									386	(1,080)	398
Comprehensive income (loss)									(993,882)	(498,870)	(808,879)
Reportable Legal Entities | Parent Company
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(1,029,742)	(372,675)	(670,659)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment									17,743	(116,239)	(79,059)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment										5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									17,743	(110,874)	(79,059)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									11,054	(15,310)	(59,932)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)									3,495		2,337
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									14,549	(15,310)	(57,595)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									1,061	1,104	(5,050)
Pension Buy-out									3,059
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges									613	613	612
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									37,025	(124,467)	(141,092)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									1,551	648	(2,474)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									35,474	(125,115)	(138,618)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(994,268)	(497,790)	(809,277)
Comprehensive income (loss)									(994,268)	(497,790)	(809,277)
Reportable Legal Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(359,751)	(164,697)	(250,365)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment									(21)	67	1,583
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									(21)	67	1,583
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities											156
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)											(2,395)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities											(2,239)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									1,061	1,104	(5,050)
Pension Buy-out									3,059
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges									613	613	612
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									4,712	1,784	(5,094)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									1,551	648	(2,474)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									3,161	1,136	(2,620)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(356,590)	(163,561)	(252,985)
Comprehensive income (loss)									(356,590)	(163,561)	(252,985)
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(1,237,375)	(383,291)	(767,817)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment									17,743	(116,172)	(79,174)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment										5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									17,743	(110,807)	(79,174)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									11,054	(15,310)	(59,776)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)									3,495		(58)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									14,549	(15,310)	(59,834)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									2,122	2,208	(10,100)
Pension Buy-out									6,118
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges									613	613	612
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									41,145	(123,296)	(148,496)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									3,102	1,056	(5,187)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									38,043	(124,352)	(143,309)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(1,199,332)	(507,643)	(911,126)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									135	381	1,415
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest									251	(1,461)	(1,017)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									386	(1,080)	398
Comprehensive income (loss)									(1,198,946)	(508,723)	(910,728)
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									1,597,126	547,988	1,018,182
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment									(17,722)	116,105	77,591
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment										(5,365)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									(17,722)	110,740	77,591
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									(11,054)	15,310	59,620
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)									(3,495)		2,453
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									(14,549)	15,310	62,073
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									(3,183)	(3,312)	15,150
Pension Buy-out									(9,177)
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges									(1,226)	(1,226)	(1,224)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									(45,857)	121,512	153,590
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									(4,653)	(1,704)	7,661
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(41,204)	123,216	145,929
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									1,555,922	671,204	1,164,111
Comprehensive income (loss)									$ 1,555,922	$ 671,204	$ 1,164,111