Represents the amount of per-occurrence deductible which the entity has on its automobile insurance claims.

No definition available.

Name:	nbr_AutomobileClaimsDeductible
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amount of deductions in land rigs and for offshore rigs.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_DeductionsInLandRigsAndForOffshoreRigs
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amount of deductions in windstorm damage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_DeductionsInWindstormDamage
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amount of employer's liability claims subject to per-occurrence deductible.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_EmployersLiabilityClaimsSubjectToPerOccurrenceDeductible
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amount of general liability claims subject to per-occurrence deductible.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_GeneralLiabilityClaimsSubjectToPerOccurrenceDeductible
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of insurance claim on platform rig.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_InsuranceClaimPlatformRig
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amount of political risk insurance losses deductible for foreign operation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_PoliticalRiskInsuranceLossesDeductibleForForeignOperation
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amount of self-insurance recoveries/ receivables as of balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_SelfInsuranceRecoveriesOrReceivables
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nbr_SelfInsuranceReserveDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	nbr_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount (including both current and noncurrent portions) of accrued known and estimated losses incurred as of the balance sheet date for which no insurance coverage exists, and for which a claim has been made or is probable of being asserted, typically arising from workmen's compensation-type of incidents and personal injury to nonemployees from accidents on the entity's property.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.24)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SelfInsuranceReserve
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_CO
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Commitments and Contingencies - Self Insurance Disclosures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	May 22, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Self-Insurance disclosures
Employer's liability claims subject to per-occurrence deductible	$ 3.0
Workers automobile claims	2.5
General liability claims subject to per-occurrence deductible	5.0
Deductions in land rigs and for offshore rigs	5.0
Insurance on platform rig		$ 200.0
Deductions in windstorm damage		$ 5.0
Self-insurance accruals	143.3		$ 150.9
Self-insurance recoveries/receivables	30.5		$ 29.0
COLOMBIA
Self-Insurance disclosures
Political risk insurance deductible for foreign operation	$ 0.5