Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	$ (114,577)	$ (148,532)	$ (457,530)	$ (430,467)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	5,309	16,444	(9,604)	31,183
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities		(5,706)		(5,122)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)				1,341
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities		(5,706)		(3,781)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	54	50	162	150
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	143	153	425	459
Adoption of ASU No. 2016-01			(9,144)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	5,506	10,941	(18,161)	28,011
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	48	78	139	235
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	5,458	10,863	(18,300)	27,776
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(109,119)	(137,669)	(475,830)	(402,691)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	6,934	2,113	10,426	5,001
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	58	160	(101)	317
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	6,992	2,273	10,325	5,318
Comprehensive income (loss)	(102,127)	(135,396)	(465,505)	(397,373)
Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(114,577)	(148,532)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	5,309	16,444
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities		(5,706)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities		(5,706)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	54	50
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	143	153
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	5,506	10,941
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	48	78
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	5,458	10,863
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(109,119)	(137,669)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	6,934	2,113
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	58	160
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	6,992	2,273
Comprehensive income (loss)	(102,127)	(135,396)
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(5)	239,788	261,685	737,289
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	(5,309)	(16,444)	9,604	(31,183)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities		5,706		5,122
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)				(1,341)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities		5,706		3,781
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	(162)	(150)	(486)	(450)
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	(286)	(306)	(850)	(918)
Adoption of ASU No. 2016-01			9,144
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	(5,757)	(11,194)	17,412	(28,770)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	(144)	(234)	(417)	(705)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(5,613)	(10,960)	17,829	(28,065)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(5,618)	228,828	279,514	709,224
Comprehensive income (loss)	(5,618)	228,828	279,514	709,224
Parent Company
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(114,577)	(148,532)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	5,309	16,444
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities		(5,706)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities		(5,706)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	54	50
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	143	153
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	5,506	10,941
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	48	78
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	5,458	10,863
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(109,119)	(137,669)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(109,119)	(137,669)
Parent Company | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors			(457,530)	(430,467)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors			(9,604)	31,183
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities				(5,122)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)				1,341
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities				(3,781)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment			162	150
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges			425	459
Adoption of ASU No. 2016-01			(9,144)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax			(18,161)	28,011
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)			139	235
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			(18,300)	27,776
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors			(475,830)	(402,691)
Comprehensive income (loss)			(475,830)	(402,691)
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	30,508	(66,846)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	54	50
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	143	153
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	197	203
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	48	78
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	149	125
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	30,657	(66,721)
Comprehensive income (loss)	30,657	(66,721)
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors			16,063	(223,862)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Pension liability amortization and adjustment			162	150
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges			425	459
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax			587	609
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)			139	235
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			448	374
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors			16,511	(223,488)
Comprehensive income (loss)			16,511	(223,488)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(30,503)	(172,942)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors	5,309	16,444
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities		(5,706)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities		(5,706)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment	108	100
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges	143	153
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	5,560	10,991
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	96	156
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	5,464	10,835
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(25,039)	(162,107)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	6,934	2,113
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest	58	160
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	6,992	2,273
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ (18,047)	$ (159,834)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors			(277,748)	(513,427)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors			(9,604)	31,183
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities				(5,122)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)				1,341
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities				(3,781)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment			324	300
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges			425	459
Adoption of ASU No. 2016-01			(9,144)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax			(17,999)	28,161
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)			278	470
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax			(18,277)	27,691
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors			(296,025)	(485,736)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest			10,426	5,001
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest			(101)	317
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest			10,325	5,318
Comprehensive income (loss)			$ (285,700)	$ (480,418)