CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	$ 761,920	$ 631,355	$ 1,496,114	$ 1,193,905
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates	(1)		1	2
Investment income (loss)	(3,164)	(886)	(2,699)	(165)
Total revenues and other income	758,755	630,469	1,493,416	1,193,742
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs	493,975	417,521	969,378	805,165
General and administrative expenses	67,823	63,695	142,394	127,104
Research and engineering	12,439	11,343	28,245	23,100
Depreciation and amortization	218,262	208,090	431,710	411,762
Interest expense	60,592	54,688	121,978	111,206
Other, net	77,601	10,104	91,690	23,614
Total costs and other deductions	930,692	765,441	1,785,395	1,501,951
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(171,937)	(134,972)	(291,979)	(308,209)
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	3,464	14,313	12,235	37,002
Deferred	19,814	(33,809)	34,588	(82,107)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	23,278	(19,496)	46,823	(45,105)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(195,215)	(115,476)	(338,802)	(263,104)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(584)	(15,504)	(659)	(15,943)
Net income (loss)	(195,799)	(130,980)	(339,461)	(279,047)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(2,953)	(1,971)	(3,492)	(2,888)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(198,752)	(132,951)	(342,953)	(281,935)
Less: Preferred stock dividend	(3,680)		(3,680)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors common shareholders	(202,432)	(132,951)	(346,633)	(281,935)
Amounts attributable to Nabors common shareholders:
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(201,848)	(117,447)	(345,974)	(265,992)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(584)	(15,504)	(659)	(15,943)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors common shareholders	$ (202,432)	$ (132,951)	$ (346,633)	$ (281,935)
Earnings (losses) per share:
Basic from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.61)	$ (0.41)	$ (1.08)	$ (0.93)
Basic from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		(0.05)		(0.06)
Total Basic (in dollars per share)	(0.61)	(0.46)	(1.08)	(0.99)
Diluted from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	(0.61)	(0.41)	(1.08)	(0.93)
Diluted from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		(0.05)		(0.06)
Total Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.61)	$ (0.46)	$ (1.08)	$ (0.99)
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	328,372	278,916	318,580	278,348
Diluted (in shares)	328,372	278,916	318,580	278,348
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.06	$ 0.12	$ 0.12