Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statements of Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Revenues and other income:
Revenue	$ 734,194	$ 562,550
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates	2	2
Investment income (loss)	465	721
Total revenues and other income	734,661	563,273
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	475,403	387,644
General and administrative expenses	74,571	63,409
Research and engineering	15,806	11,757
Depreciation and amortization	213,448	203,672
Interest expense	61,386	56,518
Other, net	14,089	13,510
Total costs and other deductions	854,703	736,510
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(120,042)	(173,237)
Income tax expense (benefit)	23,545	(25,609)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(143,587)	(147,628)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(75)	(439)
Net income (loss)	(143,662)	(148,067)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(539)	(917)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(144,201)	(148,984)
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	144,365	292,827
Investment income (loss)	(2,981)	(2,980)
Total revenues and other income	141,384	289,847
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	(169)	(179)
Other, net	169	179
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	141,384	289,847
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	141,384	289,847
Net income (loss)	141,384	289,847
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	141,384	289,847
Parent Company | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(141,825)	(145,871)
Investment income (loss)	2	17
Total revenues and other income	(141,823)	(145,854)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	2,383	3,298
Other, net	(5)	(159)
Intercompany interest expense		(9)
Total costs and other deductions	2,378	3,130
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(144,201)	(148,984)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(144,201)	(148,984)
Net income (loss)	(144,201)	(148,984)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(144,201)	(148,984)
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	23,985	(50,717)
Investment income (loss)		63
Total revenues and other income	23,985	(50,654)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses	242	137
Depreciation and amortization	30	31
Interest expense	65,325	60,755
Other, net		11,397
Total costs and other deductions	65,597	72,320
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(41,612)	(122,974)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(15,087)	(26,735)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(26,525)	(96,239)
Net income (loss)	(26,525)	(96,239)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(26,525)	(96,239)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Revenue	734,194	562,550
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates	2	2
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates	(26,525)	(96,239)
Investment income (loss)	3,444	3,621
Total revenues and other income	711,115	469,934
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	475,403	387,644
General and administrative expenses	72,115	60,153
Research and engineering	15,806	11,757
Depreciation and amortization	213,418	203,641
Interest expense	(3,939)	(4,237)
Other, net	13,925	2,093
Intercompany interest expense		9
Total costs and other deductions	786,728	661,060
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(75,613)	(191,126)
Income tax expense (benefit)	38,632	1,126
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(114,245)	(192,252)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(75)	(439)
Net income (loss)	(114,320)	(192,691)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(539)	(917)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (114,859)	$ (193,608)