CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - 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
CONSOLIDATED 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)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
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 liability amortization and adjustment									(275)	1,061	1,104
Pension buyout										3,059
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)