CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - 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
CONSOLIDATED 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
Pension buyout											3,059
Unrealized gains (losses) and amortization on cash flow hedges									567	613	613
Adoption of ASU No. 2016-01									(9,144)
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)