Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statements of Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues	$ 782,080	$ 779,425	$ 761,920	$ 734,194	$ 708,277	$ 662,103	$ 631,355	$ 562,550	$ 3,057,619	$ 2,564,285	$ 2,227,839
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates									1	7	(221,914)
Investment income (loss)									(9,499)	1,194	1,183
Total revenues and other income									3,048,121	2,565,486	2,007,108
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs									1,976,974	1,718,069	1,344,298
General and administrative expenses									265,822	251,184	227,639
Research and engineering									56,147	51,069	33,582
Depreciation and amortization									866,870	842,943	871,631
Interest expense, net									227,124	222,889	185,360
Impairments and other charges									144,446	44,536	498,499
Other, net									29,532	14,880	44,174
Total costs and other deductions									3,566,915	3,145,570	3,205,183
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(518,794)	(580,084)	(1,198,075)
Income tax expense (benefit)									79,269	(82,970)	(186,831)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	(165,551)	(93,710)	(195,215)	(143,587)	(114,725)	(119,285)	(115,476)	(147,628)	(598,063)	(497,114)	(1,011,244)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(71)	(13,933)	(584)	(75)	(442)	(27,134)	(15,504)	(439)	(14,663)	(43,519)	(18,363)
Net income (loss)	(165,622)	(107,643)	(195,799)	(143,662)	(115,167)	(146,419)	(130,980)	(148,067)	(612,726)	(540,633)	(1,029,607)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(17,796)	(6,934)	(2,953)	(539)	(1,177)	(2,113)	(1,971)	(917)	(28,222)	(6,178)	(135)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors	(183,418)	(114,577)	(198,752)	(144,201)	(116,344)	(148,532)	(132,951)	(148,984)	(640,948)	(546,811)	(1,029,742)
Less: preferred stock dividends	(4,312)	(4,313)	(3,680)						(12,305)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors common shareholders	$ 187,730	$ 118,890	$ 202,432	$ 144,201	$ 116,344	$ 148,532	$ 132,951	$ 148,984	(653,253)	(546,811)	(1,029,742)
Consolidating Adjustments
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									375,242	853,033	1,609,049
Investment income (loss)									(12,485)	(11,917)	(11,923)
Intercompany interest income											(569)
Total revenues and other income									362,757	841,116	1,596,557
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses									(683)	(665)	(856)
Other, net									683	665	856
Intercompany interest expense, net											(569)
Total costs and other deductions											(569)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									362,757	841,116	1,597,126
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									362,757	841,116	1,597,126
Net income (loss)									362,757	841,116	1,597,126
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									362,757	841,116	1,597,126
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors common shareholders									362,757		1,597,126
Parent Company | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									(629,060)	(528,180)	(1,017,338)
Investment income (loss)									2	17	2
Total revenues and other income									(629,058)	(528,163)	(1,017,336)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses									9,725	10,995	10,559
Impairments and other charges											1,366
Other, net									1,803	7,662	482
Intercompany interest expense, net									362	(9)	(1)
Total costs and other deductions									11,890	18,648	12,406
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(640,948)	(546,811)	(1,029,742)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									(640,948)	(546,811)	(1,029,742)
Net income (loss)									(640,948)	(546,811)	(1,029,742)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(640,948)	(546,811)	(1,029,742)
Less: preferred stock dividends									(12,305)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors common shareholders									(653,253)		(1,029,742)
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									218,539	18,380	(231,960)
Investment income (loss)										63	132
Intercompany interest income											569
Total revenues and other income									218,539	18,443	(231,259)
Costs and other deductions:
General and administrative expenses									635	715	603
Depreciation and amortization									125	125	124
Interest expense, net									231,971	232,103	204,010
Impairments and other charges									5,269
Other, net										19,033	(14)
Total costs and other deductions									238,000	251,976	204,723
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(19,461)	(233,533)	(435,982)
Income tax expense (benefit)									(54,740)	109,700	(76,231)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									35,279	(343,233)	(359,751)
Net income (loss)									35,279	(343,233)	(359,751)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									35,279	(343,233)	(359,751)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors common shareholders									35,279		(359,751)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) | Reportable Legal Entities
Revenues and other income:
Operating revenues									3,057,619	2,564,285	2,227,839
Earnings (losses) from unconsolidated affiliates									1	7	(221,914)
Earnings (losses) from consolidated affiliates									35,279	(343,233)	(359,751)
Investment income (loss)									2,984	13,031	12,972
Total revenues and other income									3,095,883	2,234,090	1,659,146
Costs and other deductions:
Direct costs									1,976,974	1,718,069	1,344,298
General and administrative expenses									256,145	240,139	217,333
Research and engineering									56,147	51,069	33,582
Depreciation and amortization									866,745	842,818	871,507
Interest expense, net									(4,847)	(9,214)	(18,650)
Impairments and other charges									139,177	44,536	497,133
Other, net									27,046	(12,480)	42,850
Intercompany interest expense, net									(362)	9	570
Total costs and other deductions									3,317,025	2,874,946	2,988,623
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(221,142)	(640,856)	(1,329,477)
Income tax expense (benefit)									134,009	(192,670)	(110,600)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax									(355,151)	(448,186)	(1,218,877)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									(14,663)	(43,519)	(18,363)
Net income (loss)									(369,814)	(491,705)	(1,237,240)
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest									(28,222)	(6,178)	(135)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(398,036)	$ (497,883)	(1,237,375)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors common shareholders									$ (398,036)		$ (1,237,375)