Revenue Recognition - Changes in Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Accounts receivables current
Opening balance	$ 738,000
Closing balance	772,000
Contract with customer assets current
Contract Assets (Current)	67,000
Contract Assets (Current)	66,700
Contract with customer non-current asset
Contract Assets (Long-term)	46,900
Contract Assets (Long-term)	36,500
Contract with customer liability current
Contract Liabilities (Current)	218,370
Contract Liabilities (Current)	202,712
Contract with customer liability non-current
Contract Liabilities (Long-term)	135,000
Contract Liabilities (Long-term)	$ 106,000
Quarter 1	17.00%
2018	62.00%
2020 or thereafter	8.00%
2019	30.00%

Amortization expense percentage for contract asset to be recognized during a quarter.

No definition available.

Name:	nbr_ContractAssetAmortizationPercentageDuringQuarter
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amortization expense percentage for contract asset to be recognized during the first year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_ContractAssetAmortizationPercentageFirstYearAfterLatestFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amortization expense percentage for contract asset to be recognized during the thrid year or thereafter after the latest fiscal year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_ContractAssetAmortizationPercentageYearThreeOrThereafter
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amortization expense percentage for contract asset to be recognized during the second year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_ContractAssetsAmortizationPercentageYearTwo
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityNetCurrentAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityNetNoncurrentAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount due from customers within one year of the balance sheet date for sales or deliveries in the normal course of business.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_TradeReceivablesCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount, after allowance for credit loss, of right to consideration in exchange for good or service transferred to customer when right is conditioned on something other than passage of time, classified as current.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetNetCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetNetNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration has been received or is receivable, classified as current.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913847&loc=SL49130549-203045

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913815&loc=SL49130532-203044

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913815&loc=SL49130531-203044

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration has been received or is receivable, classified as noncurrent.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913815&loc=SL49130531-203044

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913847&loc=SL49130549-203045

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913815&loc=SL49130532-203044

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiabilityNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant