Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Comprehensive 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
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
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)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									(31,962)	28,372	17,743
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities										(6,061)	11,054
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)										970	3,495
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities										(5,091)	14,549
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									216	(275)	1,061
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges									567	613	613
Adoption of ASU No. 2016-01									(9,144)
Pension buyout											3,059
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									(40,323)	23,619	37,025
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									187	315	1,551
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(40,510)	23,304	35,474
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(681,458)	(523,507)	(994,268)
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
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest									(251)	282	251
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									27,971	6,460	386
Comprehensive income (loss)									(653,487)	(517,047)	(993,882)
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									362,757	841,116	1,597,126
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									31,958	(28,372)	(17,722)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities										6,061	(11,054)
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)										(970)	(3,495)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities										5,091	(14,549)
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									(648)	825	(3,183)
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges									(1,134)	(1,226)	(1,226)
Adoption of ASU No. 2016-01									9,144
Pension buyout											(9,177)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									39,320	(23,682)	(45,857)
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									(561)	(945)	(4,653)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									39,881	(22,737)	(41,204)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									402,638	818,379	1,555,922
Comprehensive income (loss)									402,638	818,379	1,555,922
Parent Company | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(640,948)	(546,811)	(1,029,742)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									(31,962)	28,372	17,743
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities										(6,061)	11,054
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)										970	3,495
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities										(5,091)	14,549
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									216	(275)	1,061
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges									567	613	613
Adoption of ASU No. 2016-01									(9,144)
Pension buyout											3,059
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									(40,323)	23,619	37,025
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									187	315	1,551
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(40,510)	23,304	35,474
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(681,458)	(523,507)	(994,268)
Comprehensive income (loss)									(681,458)	(523,507)	(994,268)
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									35,279	(343,233)	(359,751)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									4		(21)
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									216	(275)	1,061
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges									567	613	613
Pension buyout											3,059
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									787	338	4,712
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									187	315	1,551
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									600	23	3,161
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									35,879	(343,210)	(356,590)
Comprehensive income (loss)									35,879	(343,210)	(356,590)
Other Subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors) | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(398,036)	(497,883)	(1,237,375)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Translation adjustment attributable to Nabors									(31,962)	28,372	17,743
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities										(6,061)	11,054
Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss)										970	3,495
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities										(5,091)	14,549
Pension liability amortization and adjustment									432	(550)	2,122
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges									567	613	613
Adoption of ASU No. 2016-01									(9,144)
Pension buyout											6,118
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax									(40,107)	23,344	41,145
Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)									374	630	3,102
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(40,481)	22,714	38,043
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Nabors									(438,517)	(475,169)	(1,199,332)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									28,222	6,178	135
Translation adjustment attributable to noncontrolling interest									(251)	282	251
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									27,971	6,460	386
Comprehensive income (loss)									$ (410,546)	$ (468,709)	$ (1,198,946)