Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statements of Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	$ 662,103	$ 519,729	$ 1,856,008	$ 1,688,891
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates	4	2	6	(221,918)
Investment income (loss)	373	310	208	923
Total revenues and other income	662,480	520,041	1,856,222	1,467,896
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	441,263	306,436	1,246,428	1,012,738
General and administrative expenses	65,010	56,078	192,114	175,036
Research and engineering	12,960	8,476	36,060	24,818
Depreciation and amortization	217,075	220,713	628,837	655,444
Interest expense	54,607	46,836	165,813	137,803
Other, net	5,559	10,392	29,173	267,403
Total costs and other deductions	796,474	648,931	2,298,425	2,273,242
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(133,994)	(128,890)	(442,203)	(805,346)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(14,709)	(31,051)	(59,814)	(124,298)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(119,285)	(97,839)	(382,389)	(681,048)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(27,134)	(12,187)	(43,077)	(14,097)
Net income (loss)	(146,419)	(110,026)	(425,466)	(695,145)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(2,113)	(1,185)	(5,001)	990
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(148,532)	(111,211)	(430,467)	(694,155)
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	242,768	230,179	746,229	1,118,370
Investment income (loss)	(2,980)	(2,981)	(8,940)	(8,943)
Intercompany interest income		(153)		(417)
Total revenues and other income	239,788	227,045	737,289	1,109,010
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	(490)	(167)	(994)	(481)
Other, net	490	167	994	481
Intercompany interest expense		(153)		(417)
Total costs and other deductions		(153)		(417)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	239,788	227,198	737,289	1,109,427
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	239,788	227,198	737,289	1,109,427
Net income (loss)	239,788	227,198	737,289	1,109,427
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	239,788	227,198	737,289	1,109,427
Parent Company | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(144,837)	(107,229)	(420,300)	(685,148)
Investment income (loss)	1		16	1
Intercompany interest income		(9)
Total revenues and other income	(144,836)	(107,238)	(420,284)	(685,147)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	3,705	3,053	10,362	7,767
Other, net	(9)	929	(170)	1,245
Intercompany interest expense		(9)	(9)	(4)
Total costs and other deductions	3,696	3,973	10,183	9,008
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(148,532)	(111,211)	(430,467)	(694,155)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(148,532)	(111,211)	(430,467)	(694,155)
Net income (loss)	(148,532)	(111,211)	(430,467)	(694,155)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(148,532)	(111,211)	(430,467)	(694,155)
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(31,085)	(45,527)	(102,067)	(168,639)
Investment income (loss)	(1)		63	132
Intercompany interest income		162		417
Total revenues and other income	(31,086)	(45,365)	(102,004)	(168,090)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	243	182	573	448
Depreciation and amortization	31	31	93	93
Interest expense	56,429	50,595	173,689	152,318
Other, net	60	(18)	19,033	(18)
Total costs and other deductions	56,763	50,790	193,388	152,841
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(87,849)	(96,155)	(295,392)	(320,931)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(21,003)	(18,732)	(71,530)	(56,348)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(66,846)	(77,423)	(223,862)	(264,583)
Net income (loss)	(66,846)	(77,423)	(223,862)	(264,583)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(66,846)	(77,423)	(223,862)	(264,583)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	662,103	519,729	1,856,008	1,688,891
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates	4	2	6	(221,918)
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(66,846)	(77,423)	(223,862)	(264,583)
Investment income (loss)	3,353	3,291	9,069	9,733
Total revenues and other income	598,614	445,599	1,641,221	1,212,123
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	441,263	306,436	1,246,428	1,012,738
General and administrative expenses	61,552	53,010	182,173	167,302
Research and engineering	12,960	8,476	36,060	24,818
Depreciation and amortization	217,044	220,682	628,744	655,351
Interest expense	(1,822)	(3,759)	(7,876)	(14,515)
Other, net	5,018	9,314	9,316	265,695
Intercompany interest expense		162	9	421
Total costs and other deductions	736,015	594,321	2,094,854	2,111,810
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(137,401)	(148,722)	(453,633)	(899,687)
Income tax expense (benefit)	6,294	(12,319)	11,716	(67,950)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(143,695)	(136,403)	(465,349)	(831,737)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(27,134)	(12,187)	(43,077)	(14,097)
Net income (loss)	(170,829)	(148,590)	(508,426)	(845,834)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(2,113)	(1,185)	(5,001)	990
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (172,942)	$ (149,775)	$ (513,427)	$ (844,844)