Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Financial information with respect to reportable segments
Number of reportable segments | segment									5
Operating revenues and earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total 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
Reconciliation of segment adjusted operating income (loss) to net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									(141,937)	(118,335)	316,841
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates									7	(221,914)	(75,081)
Investment income (loss)									1,194	1,183	2,308
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
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)
ASSETS
Total assets	8,401,984				8,187,015				8,401,984	8,187,015
Assets held for sale	37,052				76,668				37,052	76,668
Equity in earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates, net									7	(221,914)	(84,275)
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									842,943	871,631	970,459
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses									600,909	414,379	923,236
C&J Energy Services, Ltd.
Reconciliation of segment adjusted operating income (loss) to net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes:
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates										(221,933)	(81,260)
Impairments and other charges										(216,200)
Operating segment | Reportable subsegments
Reconciliation of segment adjusted operating income (loss) to net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									(141,937)	(118,335)	316,841
Operating segment | Drilling & Rig Technologies
Operating revenues and earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues									2,737,455	2,330,144	3,647,942
ASSETS
Total assets	7,733,989				7,461,879				7,733,989	7,461,879
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									843,239	875,032	917,361
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses									609,182	380,941	840,673
Operating segment | Drilling & Rig Technologies | Reportable subsegments
Reconciliation of segment adjusted operating income (loss) to net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									(141,937)	(118,335)	375,643
Operating segment | Drilling & Rig Technologies | Reportable subsegments | U.S.
Operating revenues and earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues									805,223	554,072	1,256,989
Reconciliation of segment adjusted operating income (loss) to net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									(213,877)	(197,710)	87,051
ASSETS
Total assets	3,203,560				3,172,767				3,203,560	3,172,767
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									375,171	388,367	425,952
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses									330,875	183,146	224,819
Operating segment | Drilling & Rig Technologies | Reportable subsegments | Canada
Operating revenues and earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues									82,929	51,472	137,494
Reconciliation of segment adjusted operating income (loss) to net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									(22,262)	(36,818)	(7,029)
ASSETS
Total assets	347,773				329,620				347,773	329,620
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									39,597	42,143	46,786
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses									17,197	4,546	24,167
Operating segment | Drilling & Rig Technologies | Reportable subsegments | International
Operating revenues and earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues									1,474,060	1,508,890	1,862,393
Reconciliation of segment adjusted operating income (loss) to net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									108,428	164,677	308,262
ASSETS
Total assets	3,540,829				3,600,057				3,540,829	3,600,057
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									400,753	411,372	411,004
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses									159,817	169,640	578,896
Operating segment | Drilling & Rig Technologies | Reportable subsegments | Drilling Solutions
Operating revenues and earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues									140,701	63,759	69,828
Reconciliation of segment adjusted operating income (loss) to net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									16,738	(16,503)	(10,879)
ASSETS
Total assets	182,162				81,490				182,162	81,490
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									16,188	18,598	11,221
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses									58,925	21,606	5,506
Operating segment | Drilling & Rig Technologies | Reportable subsegments | Rig Technologies
Operating revenues and earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues									234,542	151,951	321,238
Reconciliation of segment adjusted operating income (loss) to net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									(30,964)	(31,981)	(1,762)
ASSETS
Total assets	459,665				277,945				459,665	277,945
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									11,530	14,552	22,398
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses									42,368	2,003	7,285
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services
Operating revenues and earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues											366,372
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization											53,735
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses											45,691
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services | Reportable subsegments
Reconciliation of segment adjusted operating income (loss) to net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities											(58,802)
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services | Reportable subsegments | Completion Services
Operating revenues and earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues											207,860
Reconciliation of segment adjusted operating income (loss) to net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities											(55,243)
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization											27,133
Operating segment | Completion and Production Services | Reportable subsegments | Production Services
Operating revenues and earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues											158,512
Reconciliation of segment adjusted operating income (loss) to net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities											(3,559)
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization											26,602
Other reconciling items (1)
Operating revenues and earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates:
Total operating revenues									(173,170)	(102,305)	(149,877)
Reconciliation of segment adjusted operating income (loss) to net income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes:
Adjusted income (loss) derived from operating activities									(157,043)	(130,976)	(159,880)
ASSETS
Total assets	$ 667,995				$ 725,136				667,995	725,136
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization									(296)	(3,401)	(637)
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses
Capital expenditures and acquisitions of businesses									$ (8,273)	$ 33,438	$ 36,872