Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 447,766,000	$ 336,997,000	$ 264,093,000	$ 254,530,000
Short-term investments	34,036,000	28,369,000
Accounts receivable, net	756,320,000	698,477,000
Inventory, net	165,587,000	166,307,000
Assets held for sale	12,250,000	37,052,000
Other current assets	177,604,000	180,134,000
Total current assets	1,593,563,000	1,447,336,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	5,467,870,000	6,109,565,000	6,267,583,000
Goodwill	183,914,000	173,226,000	166,917,000
Deferred tax assets	345,091,000	419,003,000
Other long-term assets	263,506,000	252,854,000
Total assets (1)	7,853,944,000	8,401,984,000
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	561,000	181,000
Trade accounts payable	392,843,000	363,416,000
Accrued liabilities	417,912,000	533,044,000
Income taxes payable	20,761,000	22,835,000
Total current liabilities	832,077,000	919,476,000
Long-term debt	3,585,884,000	4,027,766,000
Other long-term liabilities	274,485,000	301,633,000
Deferred income taxes	6,311,000	10,338,000
Total liabilities (1)	4,698,757,000	5,259,213,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	404,861,000	203,998,000
Shareholders' equity	2,700,850,000	2,911,816,000
Noncontrolling interest	49,476,000	26,957,000
Total equity	2,750,326,000	2,938,773,000	$ 3,254,795,000	$ 4,293,868,000
Total liabilities and equity	7,853,944,000	8,401,984,000
Consolidating Adjustments
Current assets:
Intercompany receivables	(316,686,000)	(614,694,000)
Investment in consolidated affiliates	(12,232,982,000)	(12,131,052,000)
Deferred tax assets	(388,089,000)	(333,349,000)
Other long-term assets	(14,325,000)	(72,143,000)
Total assets (1)	(12,952,082,000)	(13,151,238,000)
Current liabilities:
Long-term debt	(14,325,000)	(72,143,000)
Deferred income taxes	(388,089,000)	(333,349,000)
Intercompany payable	(316,686,000)	(614,694,000)
Total liabilities (1)	(719,100,000)	(1,020,186,000)
Shareholders' equity	(12,232,982,000)	(12,131,052,000)
Total equity	(12,232,982,000)	(12,131,052,000)
Total liabilities and equity	(12,952,082,000)	(13,151,238,000)
Parent Company | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	474,000	1,091,000
Other current assets	50,000	50,000
Total current assets	524,000	1,141,000
Intercompany receivables	95,946,000	133,602,000
Investment in consolidated affiliates	2,658,827,000	2,799,320,000
Total assets (1)	2,755,297,000	2,934,063,000
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	132,000	147,000
Accrued liabilities	28,815,000	21,100,000
Total current liabilities	28,947,000	21,247,000
Intercompany payable	25,500,000	1,000,000
Total liabilities (1)	54,447,000	22,247,000
Shareholders' equity	2,700,850,000	2,911,816,000
Total equity	2,700,850,000	2,911,816,000
Total liabilities and equity	2,755,297,000	2,934,063,000
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	42,000	44,000
Other current assets	433,000	56,000
Total current assets	475,000	100,000
Intercompany receivables	218,129,000	481,092,000
Investment in consolidated affiliates	5,494,886,000	5,531,799,000
Deferred tax assets	388,089,000	333,349,000
Other long-term assets	142,000	78,000
Total assets (1)	6,101,721,000	6,346,418,000
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable	14,000	124,000
Accrued liabilities	62,830,000	67,760,000
Total current liabilities	62,844,000	67,884,000
Long-term debt	3,600,209,000	4,099,909,000
Other long-term liabilities	29,331,000	16,284,000
Total liabilities (1)	3,692,384,000	4,184,077,000
Shareholders' equity	2,409,337,000	2,162,341,000
Total equity	2,409,337,000	2,162,341,000
Total liabilities and equity	6,101,721,000	6,346,418,000
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	447,250,000	335,862,000
Short-term investments	34,036,000	28,369,000
Accounts receivable, net	756,320,000	698,477,000
Inventory, net	165,587,000	166,307,000
Assets held for sale	12,250,000	37,052,000
Other current assets	177,121,000	180,028,000
Total current assets	1,592,564,000	1,446,095,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	5,467,870,000	6,109,565,000
Goodwill	183,914,000	173,226,000
Intercompany receivables	2,611,000
Investment in consolidated affiliates	4,079,269,000	3,799,933,000
Deferred tax assets	345,091,000	419,003,000
Other long-term assets	277,689,000	324,919,000
Total assets (1)	11,949,008,000	12,272,741,000
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	561,000	181,000
Trade accounts payable	392,697,000	363,145,000
Accrued liabilities	326,267,000	444,184,000
Income taxes payable	20,761,000	22,835,000
Total current liabilities	740,286,000	830,345,000
Other long-term liabilities	245,154,000	285,349,000
Deferred income taxes	394,400,000	343,687,000
Intercompany payable	291,186,000	613,694,000
Total liabilities (1)	1,671,026,000	2,073,075,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	404,861,000	203,998,000
Shareholders' equity	9,823,645,000	9,968,711,000
Noncontrolling interest	49,476,000	26,957,000
Total equity	9,873,121,000	9,995,668,000
Total liabilities and equity	$ 11,949,008,000	$ 12,272,741,000
Nabors Delaware [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Ownership percentage	100.00%