Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Comprehensive 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
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (132,951)	$ (184,650)		$ (281,935)	$ (582,944)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	10,879	3,458		14,739	36,820
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	3,785	1,280		584	2,049
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)	1,341			1,341
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	5,126	1,280		1,925	2,049
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	50	294		100	468
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153		306	306
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	16,208	5,185		17,070	39,643
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	78	171		157	300
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	16,130	5,014		16,913	39,343
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(116,821)	(179,636)		(265,022)	(543,601)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,971	(2,899)		2,888	(2,175)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	108	42		157	461
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	2,079	(2,857)		3,045	(1,714)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(114,742)	(182,493)		(261,977)	(545,315)
Reportable Legal Entities | Parent Company
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(132,951)	(184,650)		(281,935)	(582,944)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	10,879	3,458		14,739	36,820
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	3,785	1,280		584	2,049
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)	1,341			1,341
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	5,126	1,280		1,925	2,049
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	50	294		100	468
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153		306	306
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	16,208	5,185		17,070	39,643
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	78	171		157	300
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	16,130	5,014		16,913	39,343
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(116,821)	(179,636)		(265,022)	(543,601)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(116,821)	(179,636)		(265,022)	(543,601)
Reportable Legal Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(60,777)	(49,190)		(157,016)	(187,160)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors		46
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	50	294		100	468
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153		306	306
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	203	493		406	774
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	78	171		157	300
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	125	322		249	474
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(60,652)	(48,868)		(156,767)	(186,686)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(60,652)	(48,868)		(156,767)	(186,686)
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(146,877)	(196,193)	$ (196,193)	(340,485)	(695,069)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	10,879	3,504		14,739	36,820
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	3,785	1,280		584	2,049
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)	1,341			1,341
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	5,126	1,280		1,925	2,049
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	100	588		200	936
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153		306	306
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	16,258	5,525		17,170	40,111
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	156	283		314	481
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	16,102	5,242		16,856	39,630
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(130,775)	(190,951)		(323,629)	(655,439)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,971	(2,899)	$ (2,899)	2,888	(2,175)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	108	42		157	461
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	2,079	(2,857)		3,045	(1,714)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(128,696)	(193,808)		(320,584)	(657,153)
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	207,654	245,383		497,501	882,229
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(10,879)	(3,550)		(14,739)	(36,820)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(3,785)	(1,280)		(584)	(2,049)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)	(1,341)			(1,341)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(5,126)	(1,280)		(1,925)	(2,049)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	(150)	(882)		(300)	(1,404)
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	(306)	(306)		(612)	(612)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(16,461)	(6,018)		(17,576)	(40,885)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(234)	(454)		(471)	(781)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(16,227)	(5,564)		(17,105)	(40,104)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	191,427	239,819		480,396	842,125
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 191,427	$ 239,819		$ 480,396	$ 842,125