Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statements of Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	$ 708,277	$ 662,103	$ 631,355	$ 562,550	$ 538,948	$ 519,729	$ 571,591	$ 597,571	$ 2,564,285	$ 2,227,839	$ 3,864,437
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates									7	(221,914)	(75,081)
Investment income (loss)									1,194	1,183	2,308
Total revenues and other income									2,565,486	2,007,108	3,791,664
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs									1,718,069	1,344,298	2,371,436
General and administrative expenses									251,184	227,639	324,328
Research and engineering									51,069	33,582	41,253
Depreciation and amortization									842,943	871,631	970,459
Interest expense									222,889	185,360	181,928
Impairments and other charges									44,536	498,499	368,967
Other, net									14,880	44,174	(39,172)
Total costs and other deductions									3,145,570	3,205,183	4,219,199
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(580,084)	(1,198,075)	(427,535)
Income tax expense (benefit)									(82,970)	(186,831)	(98,038)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(114,725)	(119,285)	(115,476)	(147,628)	(330,196)	(97,839)	(186,565)	(396,644)	(497,114)	(1,011,244)	(329,497)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(442)	(27,134)	(15,504)	(439)	(4,266)	(12,187)	(984)	(926)	(43,519)	(18,363)	(42,797)
Net income (loss)	(115,167)	(146,419)	(130,980)	(148,067)	(334,462)	(110,026)	(187,549)	(397,570)	(540,633)	(1,029,607)	(372,294)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,177)	(2,113)	(1,971)	(917)	(1,125)	(1,185)	2,899	(724)	(6,178)	(135)	(381)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (116,344)	$ (148,532)	$ (132,951)	$ (148,984)	$ (335,587)	$ (111,211)	$ (184,650)	$ (398,294)	(546,811)	(1,029,742)	(372,675)
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									853,033	1,609,049	557,930
Investment income (loss)									(11,917)	(11,923)	(9,942)
Intercompany interest income										(569)	(6,452)
Total revenues and other income									841,116	1,596,557	541,536
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses									(665)	(856)	(560)
Other, net									665	856	560
Intercompany interest expense										(569)	(6,452)
Total costs and other deductions										(569)	(6,452)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									841,116	1,597,126	547,988
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									841,116	1,597,126	547,988
Net income (loss)									841,116	1,597,126	547,988
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									841,116	1,597,126	547,988
Parent Company | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									(528,180)	(1,017,338)	(351,407)
Investment income (loss)									17	2
Total revenues and other income									(528,163)	(1,017,336)	(351,407)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses									10,995	10,559	8,768
Interest expense											(1)
Impairments and other charges										1,366
Other, net									7,662	482	12,469
Intercompany interest expense									(9)	(1)	32
Total costs and other deductions									18,648	12,406	21,268
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(546,811)	(1,029,742)	(372,675)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									(546,811)	(1,029,742)	(372,675)
Net income (loss)									(546,811)	(1,029,742)	(372,675)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(546,811)	(1,029,742)	(372,675)
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									18,380	(231,960)	(41,826)
Investment income (loss)									63	132	584
Intercompany interest income										569	6,452
Total revenues and other income									18,443	(231,259)	(34,790)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses									715	603	1
Depreciation and amortization									125	124	705
Interest expense									232,103	204,010	201,364
Other, net									19,033	(14)
Total costs and other deductions									251,976	204,723	202,070
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(233,533)	(435,982)	(236,860)
Income tax expense (benefit)									109,700	(76,231)	(72,163)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									(343,233)	(359,751)	(164,697)
Net income (loss)									(343,233)	(359,751)	(164,697)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(343,233)	(359,751)	(164,697)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues									2,564,285	2,227,839	3,864,437
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates									7	(221,914)	(75,081)
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									(343,233)	(359,751)	(164,697)
Investment income (loss)									13,031	12,972	11,666
Total revenues and other income									2,234,090	1,659,146	3,636,325
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs									1,718,069	1,344,298	2,371,436
General and administrative expenses									240,139	217,333	316,119
Research and engineering									51,069	33,582	41,253
Depreciation and amortization									842,818	871,507	969,754
Interest expense									(9,214)	(18,650)	(19,435)
Impairments and other charges									44,536	497,133	368,967
Other, net									(12,480)	42,850	(52,201)
Intercompany interest expense									9	570	6,420
Total costs and other deductions									2,874,946	2,988,623	4,002,313
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(640,856)	(1,329,477)	(365,988)
Income tax expense (benefit)									(192,670)	(110,600)	(25,875)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									(448,186)	(1,218,877)	(340,113)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									(43,519)	(18,363)	(42,797)
Net income (loss)									(491,705)	(1,237,240)	(382,910)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest									(6,178)	(135)	(381)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									$ (497,883)	$ (1,237,375)	$ (383,291)