Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (148,532)	$ (111,211)	$ (430,467)	$ (694,155)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	16,444	(8,950)	31,183	27,870
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(5,706)	1,502	(5,122)	3,551
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)		3,495	1,341	3,495
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(5,706)	4,997	(3,781)	7,046
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	50	297	150	765
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153	459	459
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	10,941	(3,503)	28,011	36,140
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	78	172	235	472
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	10,863	(3,675)	27,776	35,668
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(137,669)	(114,886)	(402,691)	(658,487)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	2,113	1,185	5,001	(990)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	160	(90)	317	371
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	2,273	1,095	5,318	(619)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(135,396)	(113,791)	(397,373)	(659,106)
Reportable Legal Entities | Parent Company
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(148,532)	(111,211)	(430,467)	(694,155)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	16,444	(8,950)	31,183	27,870
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(5,706)	1,502	(5,122)	3,551
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)		3,495	1,341	3,495
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(5,706)	4,997	(3,781)	7,046
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	50	297	150	765
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153	459	459
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	10,941	(3,503)	28,011	36,140
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	78	172	235	472
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	10,863	(3,675)	27,776	35,668
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(137,669)	(114,886)	(402,691)	(658,487)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(137,669)	(114,886)	(402,691)	(658,487)
Reportable Legal Entities | Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(66,846)	(77,423)	(223,862)	(264,583)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors		12		(39)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	50	297	150	765
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153	459	459
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	203	462	609	1,185
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	78	172	235	472
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	125	290	374	713
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(66,721)	(77,133)	(223,488)	(263,870)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(66,721)	(77,133)	(223,488)	(263,870)
Reportable Legal Entities | Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(172,942)	(149,775)	(513,427)	(844,844)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	16,444	(8,938)	31,183	27,870
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(5,706)	2,782	(5,122)	3,551
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)		3,495	1,341	3,495
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	(5,706)	6,277	(3,781)	7,046
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	100	594	300	1,530
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	153	153	459	459
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	10,991	(1,914)	28,161	36,905
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	156	284	470	765
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	10,835	(2,198)	27,691	36,140
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(162,107)	(151,973)	(485,736)	(808,704)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	2,113	1,185	5,001	(990)
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	160	(90)	317	371
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	2,273	1,095	5,318	(619)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(159,834)	(150,878)	(480,418)	(809,323)
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	239,788	227,198	737,289	1,109,427
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(16,444)	8,926	(31,183)	(27,831)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	5,706	(2,782)	5,122	(3,551)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)		(3,495)	(1,341)	(3,495)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities	5,706	(6,277)	3,781	(7,046)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	(150)	(891)	(450)	(2,295)
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	(306)	(306)	(918)	(918)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(11,194)	1,452	(28,770)	(38,090)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(234)	(456)	(705)	(1,237)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(10,960)	1,908	(28,065)	(36,853)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	228,828	229,106	709,224	1,072,574
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 228,828	$ 229,106	$ 709,224	$ 1,072,574