Name:	nbr_EstimatedGainLossOnDispositionOfPropertyPlantEquipment
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Useful life of non-operating rig asset used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format.

No definition available.

Name:	nbr_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNonOperatingRigAssetUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Useful life of operating rig asset used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format.

No definition available.

Name:	nbr_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentOperatingRigAssetUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=nbr_RigAssetsExcludingJackupRigsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=nbr_JackUpRigsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_BuildingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=nbr_WellServicingRigsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_TransportationEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: