Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (148,984)	$ (398,294)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	3,860	33,362
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	3,860	33,362
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(3,201)	769
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(3,201)	769
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	50	174
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	862	34,458
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	79	129
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	783	34,329
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(148,201)	(363,965)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	917	724
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	49	419
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	966	1,143
Comprehensive income (loss)	(147,235)	(362,822)
Reportable Legal Entities | Parent Company
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(148,984)	(398,294)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	3,860	33,362
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	3,860	33,362
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(3,201)	769
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(3,201)	769
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	50	174
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	862	34,458
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	79	129
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	783	34,329
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(148,201)	(363,965)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(148,201)	(363,965)
Reportable Legal Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(96,239)	(137,970)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	(7)	(46)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(7)	(46)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	50	174
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	196	281
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	79	129
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	117	152
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(96,122)	(137,818)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(96,122)	(137,818)
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(193,608)	(498,876)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	3,860	33,316
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	3,860	33,316
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(3,201)	769
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(3,201)	769
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	100	348
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	912	34,586
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	158	198
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	754	34,388
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(192,854)	(464,488)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	917	724
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	49	419
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	966	1,143
Comprehensive income (loss)	(191,888)	(463,345)
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	289,847	636,846
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized loss on translation adjustment	(3,853)	(33,270)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(3,853)	(33,270)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	3,201	(769)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	3,201	(769)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	(150)	(522)
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	(306)	(306)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(1,108)	(34,867)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(237)	(327)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(871)	(34,540)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	288,976	602,306
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 288,976	$ 602,306