Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statements of Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	$ 631,355	$ 571,591		$ 1,193,905	$ 1,169,162
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates		(54,769)		2	(221,920)
Investment income (loss)	(886)	270		(165)	613
Total revenues and other income	630,469	517,092		1,193,742	947,855
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	417,521	341,279		805,165	706,302
General and administrative expenses	63,695	56,624		127,104	118,958
Research and engineering	11,343	8,180		23,100	16,342
Depreciation and amortization	208,090	218,913		411,762	434,731
Interest expense	54,688	45,237		111,206	90,967
Other, net	10,104	74,607		23,614	257,011
Total costs and other deductions	765,441	744,840		1,501,951	1,624,311
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(134,972)	(227,748)		(308,209)	(676,456)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(19,496)	(41,183)		(45,105)	(93,247)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(115,476)	(186,565)		(263,104)	(583,209)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(15,504)	(984)		(15,943)	(1,910)
Net income (loss)	(130,980)	(187,549)		(279,047)	(585,119)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,971)	2,899		(2,888)	2,175
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(132,951)	(184,650)		(281,935)	(582,944)
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	210,634	248,364		503,461	888,191
Investment income (loss)	(2,980)	(2,981)		(5,960)	(5,962)
Intercompany interest income		(104)			(264)
Total revenues and other income	207,654	245,279		497,501	881,965
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	(325)	(157)		(504)	(314)
Other, net	325	157		504	314
Intercompany interest expense		(104)			(264)
Total costs and other deductions		(104)			(264)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	207,654	245,383		497,501	882,229
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	207,654	245,383		497,501	882,229
Net income (loss)	207,654	245,383		497,501	882,229
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	207,654	245,383		497,501	882,229
Parent Company | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(129,592)	(182,149)		(275,463)	(577,919)
Investment income (loss)	(2)	1		15	1
Intercompany interest income		9			9
Total revenues and other income	(129,594)	(182,139)		(275,448)	(577,909)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	3,359	2,352		6,657	4,714
Other, net	(2)	159		(161)	316
Intercompany interest expense				(9)	5
Total costs and other deductions	3,357	2,511		6,487	5,035
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(132,951)	(184,650)		(281,935)	(582,944)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(132,951)	(184,650)		(281,935)	(582,944)
Net income (loss)	(132,951)	(184,650)		(281,935)	(582,944)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(132,951)	(184,650)		(281,935)	(582,944)
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(20,265)	(17,025)		(70,982)	(123,112)
Investment income (loss)	1	9		64	132
Intercompany interest income		95			255
Total revenues and other income	(20,264)	(16,921)		(70,918)	(122,725)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	193	135		330	266
Depreciation and amortization	31	31		62	62
Interest expense	56,505	51,059		117,260	101,723
Other, net	7,576	(65)		18,973
Total costs and other deductions	64,305	51,160		136,625	102,051
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(84,569)	(68,081)		(207,543)	(224,776)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(23,792)	(18,891)		(50,527)	(37,616)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(60,777)	(49,190)		(157,016)	(187,160)
Net income (loss)	(60,777)	(49,190)		(157,016)	(187,160)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(60,777)	(49,190)		(157,016)	(187,160)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	631,355		$ 571,591	1,193,905	1,169,162
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates			(54,769)	2	(221,920)
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(60,777)		(49,190)	(157,016)	(187,160)
Investment income (loss)	2,095		3,241	5,716	6,442
Total revenues and other income	572,673		470,873	1,042,607	766,524
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	417,521		341,279	805,165	706,302
General and administrative expenses	60,468		54,294	120,621	114,292
Research and engineering	11,343		8,180	23,100	16,342
Depreciation and amortization	208,059		218,882	411,700	434,669
Interest expense	(1,817)		(5,822)	(6,054)	(10,756)
Other, net	2,205		74,356	4,298	256,381
Intercompany interest expense			104	9	259
Total costs and other deductions	697,779		691,273	1,358,839	1,517,489
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(125,106)		(220,400)	(316,232)	(750,965)
Income tax expense (benefit)	4,296		(22,292)	5,422	(55,631)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(129,402)		(198,108)	(321,654)	(695,334)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(15,504)		(984)	(15,943)	(1,910)
Net income (loss)	(144,906)		(199,092)	(337,597)	(697,244)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,971)	2,899	2,899	(2,888)	2,175
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (146,877)	$ (196,193)	$ (196,193)	$ (340,485)	$ (695,069)