Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Comprehensive 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
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
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)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized gain (loss) on translation adjustment											(116,239)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment											5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									28,372	17,743	(110,874)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									(6,061)	11,054	(15,310)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)									970	3,495
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									(5,091)	14,549	(15,310)
Pension buyout										3,059
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									(275)	1,061	1,104
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges									613	613	613
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									23,619	37,025	(124,467)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									315	1,551	648
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									23,304	35,474	(125,115)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(523,507)	(994,268)	(497,790)
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
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest									282	251	(1,461)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									6,460	386	(1,080)
Comprehensive income (loss)									(517,047)	(993,882)	(498,870)
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									841,116	1,597,126	547,988
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized gain (loss) on translation adjustment											116,105
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment											(5,365)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									(28,372)	(17,722)	110,740
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									6,061	(11,054)	15,310
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)									(970)	(3,495)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									5,091	(14,549)	15,310
Pension buyout										(9,177)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									825	(3,183)	(3,312)
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges									(1,226)	(1,226)	(1,226)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									(23,682)	(45,857)	121,512
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									(945)	(4,653)	(1,704)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(22,737)	(41,204)	123,216
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									818,379	1,555,922	671,204
Comprehensive income (loss)									818,379	1,555,922	671,204
Parent Company | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(546,811)	(1,029,742)	(372,675)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized gain (loss) on translation adjustment											(116,239)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment											5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									28,372	17,743	(110,874)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									(6,061)	11,054	(15,310)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)									970	3,495
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									(5,091)	14,549	(15,310)
Pension buyout										3,059
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									(275)	1,061	1,104
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges									613	613	613
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									23,619	37,025	(124,467)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									315	1,551	648
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									23,304	35,474	(125,115)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(523,507)	(994,268)	(497,790)
Comprehensive income (loss)									(523,507)	(994,268)	(497,790)
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(343,233)	(359,751)	(164,697)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized gain (loss) on translation adjustment											67
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors										(21)	67
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Pension buyout										3,059
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									(275)	1,061	1,104
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges									613	613	613
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									338	4,712	1,784
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									315	1,551	648
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									23	3,161	1,136
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(343,210)	(356,590)	(163,561)
Comprehensive income (loss)									(343,210)	(356,590)	(163,561)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(497,883)	(1,237,375)	(383,291)
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors
Unrealized gain (loss) on translation adjustment											(116,172)
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized loss on translation adjustment											5,365
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									28,372	17,743	(110,807)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									(6,061)	11,054	(15,310)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)									970	3,495
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities									(5,091)	14,549	(15,310)
Pension buyout										6,118
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									(550)	2,122	2,208
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges									613	613	613
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									23,344	41,145	(123,296)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									630	3,102	1,056
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									22,714	38,043	(124,352)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(475,169)	(1,199,332)	(507,643)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									6,178	135	381
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest									282	251	(1,461)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									6,460	386	(1,080)
Comprehensive income (loss)									$ (468,709)	$ (1,198,946)	$ (508,723)